Reflections on the Australian Conference on Evidence Based Coaching
The Evidence Based Coaching Conference started off with a hive of activity, lots of long lost colleagues and friends connecting and sharing love over the sad loss of a friend, educator and curious mind - Dr Anthony Grant. Vale.
His legacy lives on through the University of Sydney Evidence Based Coaching Conference, this year celebrating 20 years since Dr Grant and Dr Michael Cavanagh began offering the Masters in Coaching program at Sydney University. The global coaching community sent video messages to honour this great man and to pay tribute to the work that he created and which will continue to evolve in his honour.
At the heart of the conference were our Wellcoaches USA pioneers Dr Margaret Moore and Dr Carol Kauffman. Coach Meg as she is known, was referenced in multiple research and papers and Dr Kauffman provided insights into the mutual collaboration and respect that the USA team and Australia team have for each other.
Despite the grief and sadness at the death of Dr Grant, the event was inspiring and challenged our thinking to be more systems orientated in our approach and more ethically challenging when we are working with industry leaders. How will coaching impact our environments, our communities and our economies as an integrated system? The question was posed by Dr Cavanagh. If we don’t challenge our leaders to be more ethical in their thinking and operations, are we as coaches being complicit in the destruction of our societies?
The question was posed to us through the work of Prof Tatiana Bachkirova too. Are we pushing too much as coaches? Would it be more effective if we reconfigure our aim in coaching to be more aligned with managing the present rather than pushing for continued aspiration and striving in our leaders. The values of pragmatism suggest that instead of aspirations, ambitions and excessive positivity we must focus on learning, community and action. These are of more value in what we as humanity can strive for.
Dr Sean O’Connor argued that not only what we do but “how we show up” impacts the systems that we operate in. He stressed understanding the networks we operate in, who influences who amongst the systems so that we can develop a contagion of wellbeing and compassion to support new ideas and implementing change. Neural networks of developed compassion are powerful systems themselves. He reminded us to be mindful that change in a leader has an effect on those most connected (not by hierarchy but by influence and relationship).
I spent an afternoon in the positive psychology research panel session with Dr Suzy Green. A stand out presenter to me was Danielle Buckley who used evidence based coaching in a long study to lift the job retention rate for tradespeople from 45% to 97%. The panel Q+A allowed me to engage the panel and pose the question to Danielle and the attendees on how I can bring to life my vision for “every community member to have access to a health and wellness coach in Australia”. Her take home advice - be determined, keep at it, present the facts and the data so that the benefits are seen as indisputable.
With a head full of inspiration and a spring in my step, I leave the conference with new friends and new ideas. More importantly touched by the words of Professor Tony Grant. I leave them with you.
What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever received?
There are several:
Just for today – take life one day at a time – especially when it all feels too much.
Accept the things you cannot change, have the courage to change the things you can and develop the wisdom to know the difference.
Don’t take any of this too seriously. Let go of resentments. Live a joyous life. Make real friends that you can be yourself with. Remember, everything ends. Each day could be your last. Savour it.