Week FOUR

Introducing CYCLE TWO

CYCLE ONE of our learning was focused on learning about. We learned the meaning of listening, empathy and questing in a coaching context, and began working to personalize and practice. CYCLE TWO is about learning how. This moves us from the knowledge quadrant above over to the skills quadrant. Here we will focus on building our skills through practice. You will remember from the juggling that skills require PRACTICE. We encourage you to find as many formal and informal opportunities to practice as possible.

During our zoom meeting this week we will shift from whole group work to smaller group work where we will be able to practice the skills in zoom and get feedback. In addition you will continue to work on developing these skills through the weekly coaching tasks.

You will also continue to focus on personalizing your learning. This has to do with the Awareness and Stance learning quadrants above. What are you noticing and how are your beliefs changing in relation to the new knowledge and skills you are developing in listening, empathy and questing? To support you in this there are several journaling tasks below. These are opportunities to reflect on your own personal learning in relation to the material.

Week 4: March 22- March 28

This week we return to the skill of listening. We will be going deeper with this skill, building on what you've learned before and the ways that you have integrated your skills in listening, empathy and questing. This week we invite you to think more deeply about the listening skill of being fully present when you are listening.

EXPLORE -- Please do the following:

JOURNAL: start by writing in your journal about what the key points you've learned about listening, empathy and questing. Highlight any ways that you've felt them integrate into your life. You may have questions also. This is a good time to write down any questions you have about listening in particular. That will prime you for the explorations this week.

WATCH this five-minute video of Jack Kornfield, a mindfulness educator, and Brother David Steindl-Rast , a Benedictine monk, talking about the topic of Facing Difficulties. [note that YouTube will let you turn on English subtitles on the video if you like]

• JOURNAL about any key points that you want to remember. Capture any thoughts about how this might influence how you think about your experience and the experiences of others during this time of Corona Virus and all the uncertainties that we all face.

READ this piece by Parker Palmer on the importance of presence.

• JOURNAL: Palmer tells two stories, one of a friend's experience with cancer and another of his own experience with depression to illustrate the potenial power that simply being present to another can bring. Write in your journal about a person or a time in which someone was present with you in this kind of way.

READ this poem by therapist Leo Buscaglia about the power of listening

• JOURNAL about what this poem reminds you of about what you've learned about expanding your listening skills. Think of someone you know who might appreciate the opportunity to be listened to in this way.

WATCH this five-minute video about gratefulness and blessings. Just for yourself. No task. Just enjoy.

EXPERIENCE

COACHING TASK:

This week to have at least two conversations (in person with family, via Skype or WhatsApp or Zoom with a colleague/teacher/peer) in which you practice presence and deep listening.

The topic can be about anything appropriate to the situation. You might be talking with teachers about teaching online. You might be talking with friends or family about uncertainty and fear around the Corona Virus/CoVid-19, something many might benefit from being about to talk about.

The focus for you is on being and remaining fully present. Build on your listening and empathy skills, use questing kinds of questions if needed, and deepen your abilty to be fully present in your listening.

Before you have your conversation you may want to revisit the poem from the readings above.

REFLECT

After your coaching conversations please fill out your coaching journal and your skill journal so you can keep track of your own thoughts, feelings and learnings in this experience!

FILL OUT REFLECTION FORM:

PRACTICE

ZOOM meeting: (March 26, 27 or 28)