Co-coaching 2 day jump-start training

Imagine a world where everyday citizens felt empowered to change their lives and support the development of those around them. Imagine the possibility for people to thrive in our rapidly changing world, all the while continuously developing self-leadership, creativity and cooperation skills. 

Let’s say you have an issue in your life, and you want some help. You start by reading self-help books, but you feel alone and you don’t know how to apply the lessons you’ve learned in your life. Then you try to share your story with a friend, but she tries to give you advice, fix your problem, and begins sharing a similar story. You look into getting a professional coach, but you can’t afford the high fees. 

You want to tell your story to someone who is on your side and knows your world. Someone you feel safe with.You want to tell your story to someone who gives you their full attention, who nods, asks a question or two, laughs with you, and shows that she understands. 

You know that after you tell your story to this person, you will begin to feel easier, less stuck. While you tell your story you notice aspects you overlooked before. You will see new things you can do. You feel relieved.

We believe this opportunity is more than possible.

Introducing co-coaching: democratizing coaching and liberating personal development

Co-coaching provides a  structure and a set of skills for mutual support and development. We relate as equals. We assume participants are already skilled at living and changing their lives.  And we assume that we all can learn to live our lives easier, more successful and more enjoyable. 

Why is co-coaching different than other coaching? 

In traditional coaching and therapy, the client is a receiver of care provided by an expert.

In Co-coaching we train participants to help themselves and to help others to help themselves without this hierarchy and with a definite emphasis on strengths, positive experiences, joy and effective action. This exchange of coaching roles is powerful in creating empathy, empowerment, and support for participants. Once participants understand the co-coaching philosophy and methodology, they are free to meet independently and do so without fees. 

How does it work? 

Co-coaching provides a context, shared philosophy, tools, and a community to make mutual learning and development possible! 

Context

People meet in sessions in which they take turns as explorer and as supporter.

They split their time 50/50.

The explorer is in charge of the session and chooses an area of focus for the session - a situation in his life that he would like help with. He explores this area of focus and looks for small steps or big steps to make a shift. He may also appreciate what is going well in his life and areas which may offer lessons to improve life even more.

The supporter listens deeply and may offer suggested tools out of the shared co-coaching toolbox. The explorer can then decide whether these tools are helpful to apply in this session.

10 Principles that guide co-coaching

1. listen with a kind heart and an open mind to struggles, pain, joy and successes
2. create a light and safe atmosphere 
3. validate yourself and each other
4. decipher when to offer and when not to offer suggestions 
5. allow emotions and, when appropriate, leave unproductive emotional states
6. catch yourself before acting out of earlier patterns
7. be optimistic and practical in finding solutions, first and small steps
8. keep yourself and your partner accountable
9. become aware of underlying values and dreams
10. understand how the context we operate in hinders and supports our flourishing

***Co-coaching sessions do not include judgment, opinions, advice, criticism and interpretation.

Shared toolbox: we’ve put together a simple set of tools to help partners get unstuck in their exploration. These are developed from various coaching techniques, co-counseling, and in other practices proven to be successful in self and peer-supported transformation. 

Who is this for? 

Co-coaching is open for people who are aligned with the principles of the method. No earlier training is required. We are looking for people who are interested in deep listening as a foundation for this transformational practice. 

How can I start? 

After the introductory evening, we host a weekend training to teach you the principles and shared toolbox of co-coaching. During this training you will try on these principles and toolbox in actual co-coaching sessions. This will be a ground to experiment and learn from one another - the most powerful learning and development happens within the co-coaching sessions. Therefore, the training teaches you methods while getting support in your own life situations.  

Community

We build a supportive community to find co-coaching buddies, to have meetings with the possibility to discuss experiences and deepen and learn new skills.

About the facilitators: 

Roelof Roggema studied organizational psychology and has worked as a communication skills trainer, psychology teacher, coach, and taught dozens of co-counseling beginners, advanced and train-the-trainer workshops in the Netherlands and Germany. Roelof developed the first co-coaching training in 2002.  

'My motto: It is good to help, to teach people to help themselves is better."

Meg Mateer is a former consultant with an educational background in cultural psychology. She applies business innovation processes to enhance the human side of organizations and improve group behavior.  She emphasizes the importance of diversity and thinking outside of the box in creating sustainable positive change.

"My motto: in connection with each other we discover ourselves."