I was supposed to be heading to London – England – today for the International Coaches Federation convention. I attended last year in Las Vegas and it was very interesting. I was excited by the possibility of the visit but with a full time job like I have right now I just couldn’t make it work. There are some exciting and innovated sessions planned and the wonder of this electronic world makes it possible to attend those virtually. Of course it is the middle of the night here so it won’t interfere with my working hours so on Monday and Tuesday I will definitely be listening in. Could be fun. Check it our out on the ICF website.

Why are we so bad at change? We seem to get the procedural part but we can’t seem to manage the interpersonal part. somehow we have forgotten the power of the comfort zone and the inertia that keeps people there. This morning I listened to George Ayee talk about the kinds of resistance he has heard around change. “I don’t get this” – the intellectual resistance; “I don’t like this” – the emotional resistance and “I don’t like YOU” – the personal trust issue. I would add “I don’t need this” – the physical more immediate response.

For me it is easy to identify the past present future orientation in these resistant statements and then it becomes easier to create a plan of action or a response in each of three instances. For those who live in the past it is SOOOO important to acknowledge past contribution. If you don’t do that the resistance will become entrenched and the project is doomed. So for those who don’t like the change an exploration of what they like about the past and want to keep moving forward is crucial. Once those appropriate pieces of past can be identified and incorporated in to the plan for the future you have met the objections of the past oriented people.

The present oriented people will come on board when everything is settled and in place. until then they will operate as they have. They don’t need to hear about future plans. They just need to know what to do today. “I don’t need this” means I am doing my job right now. Once the job description has changed I will do that one too. Just tell me what to do.

The future oriented people are all over change except when they don’t understand the why. For them the intellectual reasoning needs to be clear to allow them to freedom to move forward.

Change managers really need to be aware of where the people are. In every change conversation elements of past, present and future orientation are key. So be prepared to describe the change from five years out as a thing of the past for past oriented employees. Be prepared to explain it as if it has already happened, as if it is present and operational for the present oriented people and also be prepared to describe the result (the why), the contrast between the now and a future then for the future oriented people…. and be prepared to watch people shift perspective as they SEE, HEAR or SENSE someone recognizing and addressing their concerns effectively – in their own language.

This is a cool video that does a good job of explaining coaching. The ICF conference in London is going to do a flash Mob on it….. Wish I could be there.

“Coaching taking to the streets? Have you ever considered what could happened if coaches would randomly challenged and inspire people on the streets?
Well, Shivani has and here is a video with it:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=uF4nembFLI

What is more, coaches from 56 countries will have the chance for some flash mob coaching at the streets of London this October!
What do you think would be the impact of it?”

We are on the train between Florence and Rome. It’s a cloudy day … Our first this trip. It is a good day to be traveling.
Trains in Europe are amazing. Everyone stands at the station watching the boards. As soon as the track is posted, everyone moves toward their train track and spreads out the length of the train to the sign with their coach number posted. Here is a hint… Coach one is at the end of the train furthest from the station. The train pulls in, empties, a fills again rather efficiently. The it pulls away toward its destination.
I love the way Europeans expect people to be responsible for their own well being. No one asked us what train we were riding in or what coach or what seat. No one offers help. They assume we can find it. Everyone is responsible for themselves. That feels very different than in North America.
Trains as a metaphor for communication in societies?

Hello everyone… or should I say Ciao.  Italy is so far away, physically and yet so close, spiritually.  Italians invented “La Dolce Vite”.  We have a lot to learn from them.

I have really had a good opportunity lately to read and digest Chris McGoff’s book and application for ipad – The Primes.  McGoff is brilliant.  His take on organizational structure and development is refreshing.  It is simple and elegant and provides readers, listeners and watchers information for all of the senses on the universal patterns of behavioral that he has identified.  I absolutely love how explains things with his drawings and his video clips in the app.  and also how it is explained in more detail in the book.  I wish I had thought of it….

Some simple and profound thoughts from The Primes…

4 of 32 – Change vs Transformation – Change fixes the past.  Transformation creates the future.

15 of 32 – Fragmentation – Understanding the natural splintering of intentionality helps address it.

31 of 32 – Trust the Universe – The Universe helps people who live boldly.

I am beginning to incorporate the Primes into my coaching strategies.  Leaders can learn a lot from these simple truths and coaches can help them understand the application to their specific situation.

Find it if you can and let Chris know I sent you.

This ten days traveling with my daughters has been an interesting study in leadership …. Shared leadership. We are easy with each other and are both gentle and honest in the right measure. Even walking through Rome we are like geese in flight. One takes the lead through the crowds for a while and then, without discussion, the other. Although there is a rough plan of action when we leave our hotel room we adapt and move with the circumstance. Everything is negotiated and comfortable. One person signals hunger or thirst and we find food and drink. We all look at the options and agree where to stop and then where to go from there. There is lots of laughter and an easy way of being together. It is so cool. I love these people. Can’t wait for next year’s trip! I wonder where we’ll go? Where ever it is we will decide together.

On the bus back to Florence from Cinque Terre. A beautiful sunny day to visit one of italy’s National Parks. There are no words to describe this unesco site. It defies description. It must be experienced.
This was my second trip. The first was cold and rainy. This one very warm and not a cloud in the sky. The first was a leisurely day between two nights at Monterossa. This one a forced march with a bus full of very nice people all taller and in better shape than me.
I am tired now and happy to have shared this special part of the world with my daughters. Life is good. Make national parks a part of yours.

Today we took the train from Venice to Firenze. We sat with a lovely family from the US who have travelled a lot. It was very interesting to talk with them. There was a call for a doctor to car 4. We were all speculating whether it was the very pregnant lady who had gone into labour.

Once here we were met at the station by a car and taken to our hotel. Then we walked down the street along the Arno to Harry’s Bar for lunch. The Ponte de Vecchio was just one bridge away. It was very hot here today. 36C. Uncomfortable.

This evening we had a drink at the bar at the top of our hotel. It is beautiful up there. You can see all of the landmarks that we will see up close on Saturday. Tomorrow it is a bus tour of Tuscany. I can hardy wait … even though the famous Tuscan sun may be a little over powering again tomorrow.

Italy in July ….. Gotta love it. Relaxing and thought provoking.

It  is lovely here. The weather is great and the old city doesn’t change. There are soany very large cruise ships carrying so many people that the place is teeming. We found a nice quiet street to wander down and have a nice lunch. Now we are off for a tour and a gondola ride.Tomorrow  the Lido. A day at the beach. I do love beaches. Maybe I’ll write.