Recently I enjoyed a lovely walk in the Monmouthshire countryside with a professional colleague of mine.  We have taken to going for a decent walk instead of just sitting over coffee then lunch for our quarterly mutual coaching session. This is an informal arrangement that has developed between us over the last few years and recently we decided to use some of the time to get some fresh air. 

Coaching became ‘trendy’ to do back in the nineties and is now an established way of developing yourself and your team.  What is interesting is people’s approach to it as some people insist that you have to meet in a semi-formal setting, make notes and be very structured in your approach.  I believe that coaching works best when both parties are relaxed and able to talk without boundaries or prejudices.  By getting outside in the fresh air and yes, maybe getting wet and muddy, you will build the relationship of trust needed to be able to coach on a personal level as well as a professional level.

I have always advocated John Whitmore’s GROW model for coaching as I believe that models should be simple and effective.  Lets be fair as well, if you are in the middle of a muddy field Goal, Reality, Options & Will is easy to remember.  The model also works whether you are tackling a business issue or a personal development need.

The other advantage of being outside is that the conversation will have natural breaks which can often feel awkward in a meeting room but completely understandable when you cannot get your breath back after walking up hill!!  And of course there are very little distractions which can support the coachee in being much more frank about the situation.

So if you fancy some coaching in the outdoors….get in touch or try it yourself, especially on a fabulous day like today!

Thanks for your time, Suzanne Unsworth

www.rubusassociates.co.uk