A case of the right diagnosis in medicine and coaching

Getting the right diagnoses in life is essential. Thomas had a bad cough for about 3 months. Two trips to the doctor, a prescription for ventolin and a range of home remedies did not cure his incessant coughing throughout the night that left us all cumulatively exhausted, most all Thomas. On 21st December we visited a doctor in Chamonix who agreed with the previous diagnosis but in addition added one extra component take – an anti-inflammatory call Solupred to be taken through the inhaler 5 minutes after the Ventolin. ‘Give it 48 hours’ he said ‘and he will be cured’. That evening we all had an uninterrupted night’s sleep – the first in months. We all feel bad leaving him in discomfort for so long.

The lesson for me here is the importance of a diagnosis and how that can either sort a problem quickly or leave one floundering.

This is what a good coach helps with – diagnosis (albeit assisting with self-diagnosis) – so that the performer can make real progress quickly and effectively with the minimum of trial.

Looking Ahead to 2010

In January 2009 I read an article by Zac Goldsmith in which is says in life you play the hand you are dealt with and as he had been dealt a particularly good hand he felt it his duty to play well. I don’t agree with all he does especially the non dom for tax status (‘let me lead and preach you but you guys pay for it all’) however the sentiment of playing your hand well connected with me and inspired a number of initiatives on my part.

For 2010 I want to do all I am currently doing even better. I want to develop my fascination for performance in both a theoretical, personal and enabling way for others. I am setting stretching goals to each of these things and committing to their delivery.

Bring it on!

When It's Leadership and Leadership

Age 24 leading a winter skills course in the Cairngorms. The group were all vetted for health, fitness and appropriate experience. All info came back positive. We climbed up to about 3000ft in reasonable weather. All was going well when one my student dropped like a stone into the snow.

I remember two things. Firstly I remember administering the obvious first steps of help whilst thinking through longer term actions

Secondly I remember being bombarded with useless information by the rest of the team. This included sending for help, carrying off the casualty and splitting the group.

I took none of it. Being benighted age 15 in the Cairngorms one winter had taught me a thing or two – mainly its not a fun place to be. I warmed the victim, gave her plenty of hot drinks and carbohydrates, disturbed here equipment between the party and walked back as a team the way we had come. Job done all home safe. It transpired there were health issues that had not been disclosed.

Learning Through Absorbing

If you ever take a ski lessen then there is only one place to position yourself in the group. That is right behind the instructor. Right behind – close enough to absorb their every movement. In this way, with a minimum of effort you will in their absence be able to replay those unconsciously rehearsed actions. Close your eyes and you will see their skis carve every turn. Their fluid and precise actions will become yours.

In the same way get right in behind leaders you admire. Focus. Watch and emulate their every move and their admired traits will become yours.

Headline from Times: Dubai feels the heat of climate change
Concern for the environment could mean Dubai becoming an impossibly luxurious destination for all but the wealthiest of tourists

This effectively says wealth = non responsibility for the environment. Read the article here Timesonline.

Affluenza
Noun: affluenza
Definition: An extreme formof materialism resulting from the excessive desirefor material goods

Over Christmas I read the 0liver James book of the same name. Sadly I can recognise the symptoms, not just mildly in all of us, but extreme cases where people who once seemed quite ordinary and balanced now seem only interested to speak of their house price, shares, holidays and how wealthy their friends are; despite having not seen them for some time. All other news on a personal front to them had become ‘worthless’.

I experienced a not dissimilar situation in the late 80s, early 90s when people threw themselves lock stock and barrel at careers in corporations in the belief that these places where the new ‘holy lands’ – only to see them close together with their careers 18 months later.

It is not about commitment, which is an essential. It is about balance, about taking all of you forward – not throwing your values on the wayside to reduce the weight. Do that and when the cash dries up you having nothing left.

6 months ago it occurred to me that there was a big silver lining to the current turmoil. When oil hit $160 and food prices shot through the roof despite all the negative economic data it was clear that unsustainability was reached and a real opportunity for us to reinvent through imperative had come.

For many the sole pursuit of materialism is no longer valid as the vehicle has gone. Hopefully this will allow these lost soles to cultivate a desire and space for new self to grow. Read the article.

2009 - The Year for Performance

I read a newspaper article last year. The typical thing, a journalist using a coach and questioning whether it wasn’t just common sense. Sure, ‘nothing as uncommon as common sense’ they say.

There are a couple of prerequisites to being coached effectively:
Firstly you need to want to improve your performance
Secondly, in some shape or form, you must want to be coached!

2008 saw two massive improvements in performance for me. In addition to a huge amount of coach development through my PGC in Executive Coaching at the University Strathclyde Business School, I also engaged the services of two professional coaches for my own performance in different activities; sailing and skiing.

Charlotte, a long time friend and professional as the Scottish National Watersports Centre gave me a couple of half day sessions around performance sailing in preparation for my own RYA Dinghy Coach’s update. This is a qualification I have help for 20 or so years and needs revalidation from time to time. Coupled with my own reading, practice and development plan, the sessions with Charlotte literally catapulted my performance.
Full on practice - review – practice in challenging conditions.

Then this Christmas, to develop my skiing I engaged the services of Christiane, a professional with the Ecole de Ski Français in Les Houches by Chamonix where I hang out. This guy is good. 58 years old and an ex army instructor who now teaches skiing in winter and chills out with tennis and golf come summer. Christiane’s approach was push you as far as you can go, take you beyond it and teach you how to be comfortable in this new place. Brilliant.

We skied everything. Ice, powder, perfect pistes and forests. My favourite pastime was to tuck right in behind him and ski where he skied and boy what a ride that was! Initially I was down for 3 2.5 hour sessions. I extended it to 5.

The last 4 seasons have seen me work on a number of things. Progress yes, breakthrough no! What I realised very early on in these coached sessions was that I was focusing on the wrong things, and as any Jedi knows ‘Focus is Reality’. Through the coaching approach of Christiane I was able to apply focus to the right things and create a new reality. I would not have achieved this without him.

What both these cases illustrate is that where performance is sought in any arena, work or sport, don’t mess around. Get a coach in to help you work your mix. You might get there yourself if you through enough resources at it. Might!

Last Entry for 2008

I think that little lad – not so happy - called Oliver aged 10 some 37 years ago would be quite pleased with his investment / faith in the future if he had he been able to see Oliver 2008.

It’s been a good - no great - year and I have many, many people to thank for that. If I have known you personally in 2008 I would like to say a big ‘thank you’. I really mean it.

As is life, some of the 'calls' I have made this year I could never be certain about, articulated far better than I by Robert Frost’s perfect poem ‘The Road Not Taken’. (Please visit this link for a concise and explained version of this work)

Two roads diverged in a yellow wood,
And sorry I could not travel both
And be one traveller long I stood
And looked down one as far as I could
To where it bent to the undergrowth…..

Perhaps 2009 will see me explore some of these 'lesser' paths - who knows.

I am ending 2008 and starting 2009 as I started and ended the year before and many before that….with my great passion skiing. For those who will not be joining, here is Neil Young; one of my life time heroes, with a fitting song I always relate to my journeys to my other home in beautiful snow covered Chamonix.

To everyone I know thanks for sharing the year with me - let's continue it.

Oliver (and of course the 'wee man')