In this episode of "The Making of a Coach," Tobi engages with Witali and Kamil, the founders of WalkAboutYou, to explore the journey of becoming a coach through outdoor facilitation. Based in Cologne, Germany, WalkAboutYou offers unique personal development hikes that integrate mindfulness and entrepreneurial insights. The episode delves into how Witali and Kamil transitioned from their entrepreneurial backgrounds to coaching, emphasizing the importance of connecting with nature and simplifying complexity in their coaching approach. They discuss frameworks like Theory U and the inner development goals, which play a significant role in their methodology.

Key Learnings:

• Embrace the principle of "connect before act" to build trust and psychological safety within teams, a crucial step in becoming a coach.
• Utilize outdoor facilitation as a tool for personal and team development, integrating mindfulness and nature to enhance the coaching experience.
• Leverage personal networks and word-of-mouth to organically grow a coaching business, focusing on authentic connections and shared experiences.

Chapters

[00:00:00] Introduction to the Podcast and Guests

[00:02:00] WalkAboutYou Program Experience

[00:09:00] Picture Exercise: Describing Your Journey

[00:13:00] Witali's Entrepreneurial Journey

[00:14:00] Witali's Entrepreneurial Path

[00:18:00] Kamil's Entrepreneurial Journey

[00:25:00] The Birth of WalkAboutYou

[00:29:00] First Steps of WalkAboutYou

[00:35:00] Navigating Challenges and Growth

[00:40:00] Transition to Business Clients

[00:45:00] The Power of Word of Mouth

[00:50:00] Creating Business Offerings

[00:55:00] Personalized Client Engagement

[01:00:00] Pricing and Packaging Services

[01:05:00] The Importance of Longer Retreats

[01:08:00] Conclusion and Closing Chapter

Important Links

WalkAboutYou website: https://walkaboutyou.org/

Kamil's website: https://kamilbarbarski.com/

Witali's LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/witali/

Inner Development Goals website: https://innerdevelopmentgoals.org/

metaFox Coaching Tools: https://metafox.eu/

Get our free Coaching Tools Handbook: https://metafox.eu/products/coaching-tools-pdf

Resources:

1. Search Inside Yourself: The Unexpected Path to Achieving Success, Happiness (and World Peace) by Chang-Meng Tan

2. Running Lean by Ash Maurya

Nami Ishihara, a group facilitator and team building expert, shares her journey of becoming a facilitator in this episode. Based in Indonesia, Nami discusses her experiences with Belbin team roles and the importance of intercultural communication in group process facilitation. She highlights the significance of creating a safe space for team members to express diverse opinions, which ultimately leads to better decision-making. Nami's path to becoming a facilitator was not straightforward; she transitioned from academia to management consulting and finally found her calling in group facilitation, adapting her practice to various cultural contexts.

Key Learnings:

• Embrace the journey of becoming a facilitator by recognizing the value of diverse cultural experiences and adapting to different environments.
• Utilize frameworks like Belbin team roles to understand team dynamics and improve group process facilitation.
• Create a safe space for team members to express dissenting opinions, as it leads to stronger and more effective decision-making.

Chapters

00:00 Introduction and Initial Struggles

00:32 Nami Ishihara's Journey

04:34 Cultural Insights and Personal Growth

08:32 Discovering Facilitation

38:31 Understanding Belbin Team Roles

43:33 The Belbin Workshop Experience

47:37 Applying Belbin Insights in Real Life

56:38 Navigating the Business of Coaching

Links:

Nami's website: https://www.happyteams1.com/about

Nami on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/nami73ishihara/

The metaFox Coaching Tools Handbook: https://metafox.eu/products/coaching-tools-pdf

Learn more about the IAF - https://www.iaf-world.org/site/professional/cpf

Learn more about the Belbin Team Roles - https://www.belbin.com/

Hélène Feuillat, a leadership trainer based in Brussels, shares her journey of becoming a coach, emphasizing the importance of multicultural coaching and leadership training. With a background in diverse cultures, Hélène discusses how her experiences in Japan, India, and Thailand have shaped her coaching approach. She highlights the significance of frameworks like MBTI and Belbin in her practice, and how they aid in understanding team dynamics and personal growth. Hélène's story is a testament to the power of curiosity and adaptability in the coaching journey.

Key Learnings:

• Embrace a multicultural coaching approach to enhance understanding and adaptability in diverse environments.
• Utilize frameworks like MBTI and Belbin to facilitate leadership training and improve team dynamics.
• Recognize the importance of a growth mindset in the coaching journey to become a coach and inspire others.

Chapters

03:18 Multicultural Influences

05:02 Early Career Adventures

08:30 Transition to Coaching

10:01 Inspiration for "Back to Business"

11:55 Toyota

15:37 Starting Back to Business

24:35 Challenges and Early Successes

34:59 Growth and Corporate Training

40:00 Impact of the Pandemic on Coaching

40:57 Advice for New Coaches

42:24 Importance of Added Value and Credibility

43:07 Choosing the Right Environment

45:19 The Journey with MBTI

46:30 Using Various Tools in Coaching

53:32 Cost Considerations for Clients

54:40 Effective Use of MBTI

01:05:58 Exploring Other Models

01:06:44 Starting with MBTI Certification

01:08:47 Final Thoughts on Coaching

Links:

Hélène's website: https://helenefeuillat.com

Hélène on LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/withhelenefeuillat/

The metaFox Coaching Tools Handbook: https://metaFox.eu/handbook

Learn about MBTI Personality Types: https://www.themyersbriggs.com/

Marcel Häbold, a seasoned HR business partner from Germany, shares his transformative journey from aspiring radio moderator to becoming a coach. After being let go from Amazon, Marcel pivoted his career towards coaching, leveraging his experience in assessment centers to help companies select leaders. In this episode, Marcel discusses the intricacies of assessment centers and the role of HR business partners in leadership retreats. He also reflects on his personal growth and the importance of self-awareness in coaching. Marcel's story is a testament to resilience and the power of embracing change.

Key Learnings:

• Embrace change as an opportunity for growth, especially when transitioning from roles like HR business partner to coaching.
• Utilize assessment centers to identify leadership potential and areas for development in candidates.
• Foster a service-oriented mindset in coaching, focusing on listening and facilitating rather than directing.

Episode Chapters:

• 00:00 Introduction to Marcel Häbold's Journey
• 01:53 Early Career and HR Business Partner Roles
• 02:46 Marcel's Aurora Experience
• 04:04 Career Background and HR Journey
• 09:31 Transition to Amazon
• 09:31 Challenges and Transformation at Amazon
• 16:11 Defining Moments and Career Shift
• 18:50 Becoming a Coach and Consultant
• 20:08 Becoming a Coach
• 46:13 Starting a Business While Employed
• 50:02 Current Business Focus: Assessment and Development Centers
• 50:02 Understanding Assessment and Development Centers
• 56:53 Role Play and Behavioral Insights
• 01:14:59 Development Centers vs. Assessment Centers
• 01:18:17 Partnering and Financials in Freelance Consulting

Links mentioned on this episode:

• Get the metaFox Coaching Tools Handbook: ⁠https://metaFox.eu/handbook⁠
• Connect with Marcel on ⁠https://friluftslove.de⁠ or ⁠https://www.linkedin.com/in/marcel-h%C3%A4bold-aa1326153/⁠
• Marcel's former employer, aTrain: ⁠https://atrain.com/⁠
• Marcel's partner, Profil M: ⁠https://profil-m.de/⁠
  

Trailer: The 'Making of a Coach' Podcast in a nutshell.

Find out more on metaFox.eu/podcast