Barnabas File

Even when a novel is on the New York Times Best Seller list and is picked up by various book clubs, I am usually rather skeptical about whether it will appeal to me or not.     However, when several friends recommended Theo of Golden to me, I decided to give it a try.     Actually, I bought it in March and just read it in August.    Once I started, I was hooked.   Author Allen Levi shares the story a mysterious stranger who arrives in the city of Golden, Georgia, and begins investing in the lives of people there.  Levi weaves together various themes—faith, nature, art, music, relationships—to illustrate the impact that one individual can make in the lives of others.  He reminds us not only of the power of generosity but of compassion as well.  He does not ignore the ugliness and chaos present in even a small community but reminds us that love and faith make a difference in any circumstance.   To share just one exampl...

In recent days, I have been in several conversations with friends about retirement—some contemplating leaving a full-time position, some already in that reality.     I have often said that I have failed retirement.     I have “officially” retired twice but continue in several roles, including my work with Summit Coach Training.     Perhaps it would be better to say, “I have negotiated retirement in the way that works for me.”     And that’s the key.    Everyone is different and each must identify their own path in this third phase of life.   Here are four things that I think someone contemplating retirement should consider.   Retire TO something rather than FROM something.  When leaving a full-time role, we often think about what we are leaving behind rather than what we are entering.  We may have a mythical view of retirement as having all the time in the world to do what we want to do.  But what ...

  We have reflected on how learning and research from adjacent fields of study have impacted the core theory and methodology of coaching and the growing awareness of inclusivity and relationships in the application of coaching.  Now we turn to what I will term the emerging frontiers of coaching.     These topics are growing areas of interest among practitioners—the impact of artificial intelligence, the recognition that neurodiversity requires focused attention, and the role of faith-based or spiritual coaching.   Artificial Intelligence (AI) and Coaching   It’s here and it is not going away.  The role of AI in coaching is both energizing and controversial.  It means different things to different people.   Using AI in one’s practice may range from assigning administrative tasks to a virtual assistant to using a programmed avatar to do intake interviews.   The integration of AI technologies (such as conversational...

While management thinker Marshall Goldsmith did not coin the phrase "egocentric to ecocentric," his coaching philosophy emphasizes this approach.     Having been exposed to   Murray Bowen’s Family Systems Theory   in my post-seminary education, I have developed a tendency to look at most situations systemically.     Although Goldsmith’s emphasis is on the critical transition from self-serving leadership to systemic, planet-first leadership, he challenges us to remember that when we coach a person, we are also coaching a person within a system—a family, a church, an organization, a nation state, a global ecosystem.    Here are three coaching areas to consider under this sub-heading:  Inclusivity & Relational Contexts, DEIB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging), Team and Group Dynamics.   Cross-Cultural Engagement   The ability to coach effectively across diverse cultural norms, values, and worldviews is ess...

Coaching is by no means a static field.     As its impact and effectiveness have become widely recognized, both researchers and practitioners have sought to understand not only why coaching works but to leverage its strengths to provide more effective services to clients.     In so doing, coaches and coaching educators have engaged with other fields that are in themselves well-developed approaches to human functioning and development. In this post, we will look at four of these—Positive Psychology, Neuroscience, Mindfulness, and Somatic Coaching.   Positive Psychology.   The scientific study of human flourishing, strengths, and optimal functioning was launched by several psychologists, particularly Martin Seligman . The key idea in Positive Psychology is to look at people who are functioning well and learn from them rather than using pathology as the psychological base.  In coaching, it shifts the focus from fixing deficits to identifying a c...

Life coaching is a complex and evolving field of personal development.     I was recently contacted by a friend who did his coach training a decade ago.     He was considering reengaging in the field and asked about emerging topics in coaching.     This is a topic that often comes up with our coaches-in-training as well.   So, this is my top ten list.  It is not based on a survey and the areas are not necessarily new or novel, but they are prominent topics that I encounter on coaching websites, in chat rooms, and in webinars.   Positive Psychology   Neuroscience Mindfulness   Somatic coaching Cross-Cultural Engagement DEIB-- Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, and Belonging Team and Group Dynamics—not the same Artificial Intelligence and Coaching Neurodiversity-Affirming Coaching Faith-based or Spiritual Coaching   There are other topics that surface often:  Trauma-Informed Coaching; Climate, Eco-Anxiety, and Sustainab...