The action of challenge has been a recurring theme for me in recent days. I had forgotten how important it is to be challenged and to challenge others. Growth is dependent on this dynamic and as leaders we can forget that this is a powerful way to motivate, excite, engage, intensify and wake-up the talent around us. As leaders we must expand our range of styles in this domain of challenge.  

Busyness and action are the bywords of our current lives. There is no room for space/emptiness/quietness/nothingness. These seem to be the enemy that no one is prepared to succumb to, so we fight it off by always being on the go, most of it in the name of productivity. 

Sir John Whitmore shares a true story of a key moment of awakening that created a positive powerful engagement of his true capabilities. Speaking here at the recent ICF European Conference 2011, Sir John is considered one of the founders of the modern coaching industry. 

In a joint initiative aimed at self-regulation, the European Mentoring and Coaching Council (EMCC) and the International Coach Federation (ICF) today file with the European Union a common Code of Conduct as the benchmark standard for the coaching and mentoring industry.

 

Our interview today gives great insight into the challenge faced by all leaders in the Middle East namely, ‘how to adapt our leadership style to this specific market with specific nuances’.  

The ‘Executive Next Level’ interview this week is with a top US executive coach. The content is about leadership and the challenges being faced by those people leading organisations in the US as well as thoughts on the key steps we can and should take in stepping up in our leadership of self and others. 

This is the percentage of Middle East Professionals who are looking for a change in career. The recent poll by Bayt.com has highlighted the large gap that exists between employees and their engagement or commitment in their current organisations. 

Yesterday we were invited to speak at the Dubai Financial HR Forum. As people that are passionate about coaching it is great to be able to engage with this high level of HR experience in global organisations and see that coaching has a critical role to play.  

Following a fantastic event in Paris last year I will be attending the ICF conference in Madrid this year.  This is where the leading coaches in Europe convene to talk about and share coaching practices and thinking. 

31st May-1st June 2011
For the first time in the Middle East a conference dedicated solely to Coaching is being run in Kuwait. Woodthorpe Wright Associates have been invited to speak at the conference due to our extensive regional experience in this arena.