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Clarity about Coaching

Even though coaching has been around for many years (the first reference to coaching in the academic press was back in 1937), there still seems to be a lot of confusion involving “what is a coach” and “what does a coach do.” I thought I’d take some time to clarify that and to offer you some pointers about selecting a coach, if that’s something you think would help you reach your goals.

There are many definitions of coaching (and we’re not talking sports coaching here!). I use a simple definition: facilitating positive change in a client’s life. I think of it as helping you get from where you are to where you want to be more quickly and powerfully. I work with clients to help them think new thoughts, which (literally) creates new wiring, which generates new habits, which leads to new/better/long-lasting results.

When you work with a coach, you create a consistent level of accountability and stretch in your life that normally does not exist in any other relationship you have. The coaching relationship is also based on your agenda and your thinking (though some coaches act more like consultants or experts or mentors).

My particular method of coaching uses the latest findings in neuro-science to help me work with the way your brain works–and every person’s brain is completely unique and different.

In addition to the generic definition of coaching, there are many types of coaches. They fall into three primary categories and many sub-categories or niches. The main three are:

  • Life coaching
  • Business coaching
  • Executive coaching (sometimes called Workplace Coaching)

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About Paul

Paul enjoyed a successful 20-year career in corporate America and currently serves as Master Facilitator for the NeuroLeadership Institute-North America (formerly Director, Training & Delivery-NA) and owns and operates Response-Able Consulting LLC.

During the course of his corporate career, he managed a 100+ rep service department for one of the nation’s top 10 newspapers and revamped a subsidiary’s service department; managed a multi-million dollar sales operation for the nation’s largest independent yellow pages publisher; created, from the ground up, a training department for Time Warner Book Group (now Hachette Book Group USA); and launched and managed the first employee “career” initiative as Director of (People) Development at Time Inc.

Paul is currently a leadership and human performance consultant, executive coach, and master facilitator and has a significant management and people development background. As a human performance consultant, the focus of his work is on helping leaders create new thinking, reengage their employees, jumpstart performance, and maximize their results. In his work with corporate clients, Paul uses neuroscience-based models, relevant coaching structures, and appropriate strategic planning tools and assessments to help his clients identify, clarify, and move towards their mission-critical goals. Paul is known for his unique blend of integrity, intelligence, and humor. He quickly establishes rapport and a trusting environment with clients. Paul’s experience, knowledge, and natural passion for connecting with people provide clients with a comfortably challenging yet powerful working relationship and learning experience.

Paul has worked on a variety of projects across a variety of industries with clients including Accenture, American Express, Coca Cola, CVS Caremark, DE Shaw, eBay, FedEx, Genentech, John Deere, Ericsson, Humana, Microsoft, Motorola, Nokia Siemens Network, Northrop Grumman, Pfizer, Prudential Inc., Stanford University, Starbucks, Time Warner, and The Walt Disney Company and has spoken at numerous conferences as keynote or presenter.

Paul holds a Masters degree in Human Resources Management & Labor Relations; completed a Certificate in the Neuroscience of Leadership (2012); is an ICF Professional Certified Coach (applying for his ICF Master Certified Coach credential); served as President (2008, 2009) and Past President (2010-2011) of the Long Island Coaching Alliance-ICF Chapter; is a Results Professional Certified Coach (RPCC); a NeuroLeadership Group Coach Trainer, Mentor Coach, and Coach Assessor; was selected NLG Trainer of the Year (2011-2012); is a TAB-certified Strategic Business Leadership® Coach; a former business blogger for the NY Enterprise Report; and sits on the Advisory Board of Long Island University’s Paralegal Studies program.

Paul is a published writer, marathon runner, triathlete, proud uncle, and lives outside New York City on Long Island with his wife, Tricia, and their son, Christopher (and Pedro the cat).

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John Lennon quote

"Life is what happens while you are making other plans." ~John Lennon

Eleanor Roosevelt quote

"Understanding is a two-way street." ~Eleanor Roosevelt

The Value of Slowing Down

Are you ignoring the most important (a.k.a. strategic) issues facing your business, your company, or your life because of the more urgent issues screaming for your attention?

If so, you’re like the proverbial frog in the pot on the stove. He doesn’t notice that he’s getting cooked alive until it’s too late.

We all need to take a step back and look at what’s going on in our lives – work – businesses in order to determine if we’re heading in the right direction. Ships have a captain. Planes have a pilot. Who is overseeing your life?

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Professional Affiliations

I currently belong to or support these organizations because of the help, guidance, community, example, and inspiration they and their members provide.

International Coach Federation (ICF)

ICF-Long Island

Midtown Networking Group

TAB – The Alternative Board (Suffolk County, NY)

Association for Talent Development

Society for Human Resources Management

Coaching Explained

Coaching seems to be making its way into the mainstream. While at a recent social gathering, a woman asked my fiancé, “What does Paul do,” to which she replied, “He’s a coach.” The woman said, “Oh, like on that Scott Baio show?”

While it’s true, Scott Baio did have a recent VH1 reality TV show (Scott Baio is 45…and Single) and that one of the folks featured on it was his life coach, I hesitate to say my coaching is “like on that Scott Baio show.”

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The Peter Principle and Employee Engagement

I was talking with an HR Professional last night about the unfortunate practice of promoting people into positions for which they are not suited as a reward for good performance, the impact of this practice on employee engagement, and the potential negative effect on performance.

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Remembering 9/11

On Tuesday, 9/11/2007, I was at my monthly Long Island Coaching Alliance meeting and our current president, Lynn Engeholm, mentioned observing a moment of silence in memory of 9/11 and the events of six years ago.

I must say, I was stunned at the realization that it has been six years since the attacks. I was working in New York City that day and, like many, will always remember that sunny Tuesday morning and the uncertain days that followed.

A few nights later, I decided to watch the 9/11 documentary DVD shot by Jules and Gedeon Naudet, the French brothers who had intended to capture the story of a rookie NYC firefighter, only to capture the events of 9/11 as they unfolded in downtown Manhattan.

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Leadership Resources

  • "Emotional Intelligence," Daniel Goleman
  • "Lincoln on Leadership," Donald T. Phillips
  • "First, Break All The Rules," Marcus Buckingham and Curt Coffman
  • "The First 90 Days," Michael Watkins
  • "Developing the Leaders Around Us," John C. Maxwell
  • “The 21 Irrefutable Laws of Leadership,” John C. Maxwell
  • "The 21 Most Powerful Minutes in a Leader’s Day,” John C. Maxwell
  • "The Path: Creating Your Mission Statement for Work and for Life," Laurie Beth Jones
  • "What Got You Here Won’t Get You There," Marshall Goldsmith with Mark Reiter