The CCL Handbook of Coaching A Guide for the Leader Coach (J-B CCL (Center for Creative Leadership)).pdf

THE CCL HANDBOOK

OF COACHING

A Guide for the Leader Coach

Sharon Ting

Peter Scisco

Editors

Foreword by John Alexander

THE CCL HANDBOOK OF COACHING

One of the most important and foundational skills for effective coaching is the ability to listen.

Because we rely on listening so much in our everyday lives, we often take for granted our

ability to use this skill. Much has been written in the counseling field about the science and art

of listening. As CCL extends its presence into Asia, I find myself reconnecting with my own

culture, one of the oldest in the world. In the Chinese language, the character for listen is one

of the most intricate. I believe that understanding its construction and the meaning of its

component parts, known as pictograms, powerfully conveys what is involved in listening, and

it also reminds us, as coaches, of what we need to do as listeners.

The traditional version of the Chinese character for listen is composed of several pictograms:

The symbol for ear —what you use to listen.

The symbol for king , because when you listen, you should pay attention as if the other

person is the king.

A pairing of the characters for ten and eye , to indicate that when you listen, you should

pay careful attention, observe body language, and be especially observant—as if you

had ten eyes.

The symbol for one , signifying that you should listen with undivided attention.

The symbol for heart , because you should listen not just with your ears and eyes but also

with your heart.

-- Sharon Ting