Have you ever attempted to coach a loved one?

The ICF code of ethics  states that coaches need to “strive at all times to recognize [their] personal issues that may impair, conflict with or interfere with [their] coaching performance…” (see #8 to read more).

Most coaches would agree that attempting to coach a loved one inevitably brings up issues that not only affect their coaching performance, but also their relationship with their loved one!

After making the mistake once or twice, most of us learn our lesson and resist the temptation to coach our loved ones, but the urge to give the gift of coaching doesn’t really go away.

For this reason, every now and again ReciproCoach runs a gift coaching round. As a participant in a gift coaching round, you are entitled to give your assigned coach to a loved one. This could be your partner, brother, mother, best friend or anyone else with whom you already share a close relationship that would normally prevent you from coaching them effectively.

I have participated in numerous ReciproCoach gift coaching rounds over the years and they are certainly some of my most memorable. I have coached sisters, partners and best friends of my coaching colleagues, and in return, my partner, mother and brother have been coached. Plus, in gift rounds the gratitude is doubled, as it rolls in from the coachee as well as their ‘sponsor’ loved one.

ReciproCoach gift rounds are also an opportunity to give more coaching, without needing to receive more sessions yourself. This is particularly good if you are already involved in a peer coaching round and have reached your coaching limit.

If you’d like to join our 2017 Christmas Gift Coaching Round (even if you don’t celebrate Christmas), and share coaching with one of your loved ones, click here or login to the members area and go to Register – Coaching – 2017 Christmas Gift Coaching Round.

Before you register, please make sure that your loved one actually wants to receive the coaching and understands that the round requires them to receive 4 x 45min sessions and for you to give 4 x 45min sessions to another ReciproCoach’s loved one in return. Registration closes on December 17.

Written by Kerryn Griffiths, PhD, PCC and Global ReciproCoach Coordinator