Lessons from West Africa

I spent last week in Senegal, West Africa, working with an incredibly talented group of professionals from UNICEF country offices in the region. I was there to lead a Coaching and Mentoring Training of Trainers program. It was a wonderful experience, and for those who know my background, was an opportunity to return to my own roots in the UN and international development sector. It was the first time I had travelled to Africa, which I was pleasantly surprised to find had such similarities to parts of the Caribbean I had lived in for 12 years.

Travel has always provided me with new perspectives and last week provided no shortage of this. As I looked out to the east, across the Atlantic one evening at sunset, I imagined a short line to my last home in Barbados - the furthest west island in the Caribbean.

So what were the lessons reinforced for me last week as a coach trainer? Here are a few of the insights I jotted down during my trip:

1. The power of experiential approaches cuts across cultural and language difference. Experiential appraoches enable learners to really engage and get the learning in their bones.
2. Developing a coaching approach and culture takes time, and is an essential ingredient in developing and sustaining a high performance environment.
3. Great work takes time and preparation
4. Keeping the (coaching) client front and center is one of the most important things a new coach can learn.
5. Never underestimate the power of a powerful question.
6. Real learning happens with integration and practice.

What have been some of your recent powerful learning expeirences? What were the lessons you've carried forward from them?

Have a terrific week!

Warmly
Jennifer

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