We rise by helping others
Many coaches start their journey to first inspire themselves... and as they do they find along the way that they're inspiring the people around them too
We rise by helping others
Here's something you may not know, yet...
Many coaches start their journey to first inspire themselves... and as they do they find along the way that they're inspiring the people around them too.
Anne, one of our epic students has done exactly that and she shared her story with us recently.
Hi, I'm Anne.
I've been working in a prison delivering speaking skills training to prisoners. Another lady I met through Toastmasters invited me to join her. It is pro-bono work AND I feel like I'm the lucky one... Trust you will find this worth a read.
We delivered our first workshop last week.
I delivered 4MAT workshop to write speeches. The 'C' energy guy loved the structure, everyone loved that their speeches were ready in less than 15 minutes so they had a week to rehearse before delivering them.
It reduced the fear of preparing a speech and encouraged them that they had PLENTY of content to talk about. One man shared he had an awful public speaking experience as a teenager at school and he panics about speaking in front of others ever since.
Today was delivery day. Every one of them delivered a speech for 2 - 3 minutes, lots of depth, humour and I just wish I could have recorded them all to share here with you.
One participant's speech held an awesome life message for all walks of life - his reason for joining the workshops; to coach when he gets out. He had not shared this with anyone before. He won Best Speaker on the day and will be someone to watch when he takes up the speaking space on his release.
Another speaker shared how he wants to be a better person
Another speaker shared how he wants to be a better person, he wants be able to do a speech on his special day coming up, so he joined our workshop. He said "I never knew all I had to do was be myself and keep showing up and I could get better!?" (Yes I nearly cried but held it together till possibly just after I finish writing this and read it back before sending...)
The BIGGEST feedback for me was that they felt safe enough to open up...
The BIGGEST feedback for me was that they felt safe enough to open up and speak from the heart AND even more than that talk about themselves, their experiences so openly. They championed each other beautifully and with good humour, appropriately and by this I mean camaraderie not put downs.
Staff are very surprised given the environment and where some of these guys have come from. Staff said they must feel safe if they are speaking openly and it is a rare thing in prison to show vulnerability and care for each other.
They are very impressed and told us this is the best response for a workshop they've had, best attendance and the guys paid their fees up front within a day or two of us visiting to share with them what the course was about.
Feel the fear and do it anyway
For me this is PRIME feedback that the time taken to set them up for success, to jump in and have a go, feel the fear and do it anyway, talking about fear and excitement feeling the same, look for progress not perfection AND taking care to focus first on what they did well with a stretch for next time.
One of them said expectation is a massive challenge on the inside and he was very surprised all of them actually did their speech willingly because sticking your neck out is avoided at all costs for them...
I am so encouraged by today's results and just had to share with everyone. Keep working on rapport and setting up the space for your clients, your workshop participants to a place where they want and choose to opt in - it feels such an honour to be involved in that, to witness it as it unfolds, to know that your vision is taking shape. Amazing! Such an honour.
Did I think I'd end up working in a prison. NUP. Have the ability to get a bunch of adult male prisoners to open up and encourage each other. NUP. And here I am. I am so encouraged despite feeling out of my depth if I think too much about it. I'm starting with what I know and having a go. I'm going to keep showing up, calibrate and keep using the models I'm learning.
Thank you to everyone who keeps showing up for me
Anne's story has made us feel the warm fuzzies inside, touched out hearts, and I know it will touch yours too...
What would you say to Anne if you meet her in person?
ABOUT ANNE SHAW
Anne said 'YES' to herself for the first time with The Coaching Institute only 11 months ago, in 2017. She first started her journey to inspire herself, and soon enough, her passion to make a difference in the lives of others bloomed.
She's been working in a prison delivering speaking skills training to prisoners. She shared that the most fulfilling moment, the most heart-warming thing for her is that on the presentation day, the prisoners felt safe enough to open up and speak from the heart AND even more than that talk about themselves, their experiences so openly...
We rise by helping others
