Nancy Morris and Roberta Hill Present:

The Coaching Debates

Next debate: Does Coaching need an Umbrella Organization?

"Same old, same old."   How many times have you sat through a teleclass and thought those very words to yourself?    Or maybe you wanted to share a differing opinion but couldn’t find a gap to jump in on.   Or you thought someone might say you are "wrong"!

These monthly calls will be wide open, tell-it-like-it is discussions where everyone is free to share their thoughts, opinions, expressions, ideas with a view to evolving as individuals and as a community.

Conversations and dialogue by definition implies a consorted effort to (as Covey would say) to understand in order to be understood.   Debates on the other hand is about contentious "arguments".  Peter Block tells us that the ability to say NO is the beginning of conversation. Disagreeing is the first step to real dialogue and debating is a great way to start the process.  Each debate will be properly moderated.

We plan to validate ALL opinions no matter how extreme or out of the box.  We believe that this helps us to challenge our assumptions and paradigms.  Disagreement is fine by us,  Although we may come across as wedded to a particular position, in truth there is no absolute right or wrong.

We are interested in an exchange of ideas and opinions in order to stimulate independent and critical thinking.  That said, debating is also a regulated discussion between two matched sides and from our perspective requires some guiding principles to ensure safety and mutual respect. 

• Is coaching culture specific?
• Are we seen by others as professionals? 
• Is coaching just a fad?
• Is the Law of Attraction a two-edged sword?
• Is coaching just another MLM (Multi-Level Marketing) strategy? or Are we in a pyramid industry?
• How is coaching shooting itself in the foot? 
• Should coaches be held accountable and if so how? 
• Do coaches give advice?
• Are we consultants in sheep's clothing?
• Are coaches responsible for the results?

Do you have a bee in your bonnet about coaching?  We hope so!  Please send us any topic that you would like to see us debate.

 Nancy and Roberta will jazz up the conversation, each laying out her own opinion on the subject matter at hand then inviting others to share, learn, teach, express and experience.

Join up now to receive your own monthly announcements . . . send a blank email to:
CoachingDebates-subscribe@yahoogroups.com

TITLE:  Does Coaching need an Umbrella Organization?
Date: Monday, December  13th, 2004
Time: Noon. EASTERN
To Register and Get the Bridge Line: 
Send a blank email to coachingdebates@GetResponse.com

We are only asking for registration so that we can be sure to get an adequate size bridge line.  We will keep the debates between 20 and 30 participants.

Sparring partners and antler-tanglers extraordinaire, Nancy Morris and Roberta Hill, are going to debate this extremely important subject.  Each is taking an opposing view to get the conversation started, then open it up to all the participants.

TITLE:   Is it ethical for coaches to work in areas where they have no experience?
Date: Tuesday, November 23rd, 2004  (Completed)

TITLE:   Is Coaching Just a Fad?
Date: Wednesday, October 13th, 2004  (Completed)

TITLE:  Does Coaching Make a "REAL" Difference in the Client's Life?
Date: Monday, September 13th, 2004  (Completed)

TITLE:   Does the Client Have all the Answers?
Date: Wednesday, August 18th, 2004  (Completed)

TITLE:   Is Coaching A Profession?
Date: Tuesday, July 20th, 2004 (Completed)

Thank you so much for making our first debate such an enormous success!

Safety and Respect

Nancy and Roberta have a history with each other both professionally working as colleagues and as friends.  We have developed a mutual trust when talking together and do not feel a need to "mince words."  We also know that openness comes with time and experience with each other's style.  We intend to be quite candid with each other BUT will expect all those who choose to enter the debate to keep in mind the principles of common courtesy.

Generally speaking, we believe coaches are respectful and considerate of others.  We also take the position that feedback is just information and is always more about the sender than receiver.  Therefore, we ask that all comments or opinions focus on the content and never the person expressing the idea or thought.  It is sometimes harder to separate the idea from the person than you might think.  We ask you to attempt to suspend judgment of either.  We intend to validate ALL opinions no matter how conventional or out of the box.

We do request that you give us your first name each time you speak.  This is the best way to be clear on who is presenting an idea.   Any other details you choose to share are completely up to you.  You are welcome to remain quietly in the background.

We will not be taking notes and no position will  be attributed to a specific individual.  If an idea or point is interesting for you, it will be up to you to "record" it for yourself.

How we will moderate the debate:

1. We will begin by welcoming everyone and presenting the format
2. Nancy and Roberta will each have five minutes each to present her position on the topic being discussed.
3. After the initial round, Nancy and Roberta will have two minutes for "rebuttal" which should bring us to about 20 past the hour.
4. We will then open it up for participants to share their opinions and reasoning behind them.  Nancy and Roberta are known to have lots of opinions and will continue the debate if few or no one jumps in.
5. We often find that in debates the issue is presented as an either / or.  In reality, there are often more shades of grey and this begins to emerge as the discussion opens up.
6. At this point, it will seem more like a meeting that is chaired by the two of us as we encourage different perspectives and questions.  We will ask for other input should anyone, including us, be monopolizing the debates.  We will also interject if participants get overly engaged and begin interrupting.
7. We will conclude with participants sharing what shifts occurred for them as well as completing a brief energy grounding exercise.

Nancy Morris, PGCert, BSc (Hons):

Nancy works with professionals, team managers and independent individuals to create the synergy they need to take their business and their life to the next level. As a certified specialist in career, business and work/life balance coaching, Nancy helps her clients live their best life with passion and no apologies!   She has the innate ability to see ahead, to find opportunity in challenges and to create innovative solutions with few resources. While Nancy has an attitude of "let’s keep this simple", her easy nature also creates a motivating style that caused her other nickname, "The Kickass Coach with Compassion."

MOTTO:  Take life, but not seriously; Live life, graciously; Make life, deliberately.

Roberta Hill, MBA, PCC:

Roberta works as a mentor and professional leadership coach, as well as consults to both public and private sectors on issues surrounding change and transition. She has been working in the area of Human Resources and Organization Development since 1978. In addition, she has diverse industry experience including line management in telecommunications and financial institution. Roberta continues to work on the leading edge of leadership, management assessment and large group interventions.  Roberta is a Professional Certified Coach (International Coaching Federation) as well as a Certified Teleclass Leader with Corporate Coach University.