By Kathleen Keenlyside

As the Pacific Region's representative on the National Manager's Community Council (NMCC) for the past three years, I have been fortunate to not only meet and work alongside some pretty fantastic colleagues (now friends) from across the Public Service of Canada but also to have an opportunity to meet and work with experts on Leadership.

Back in May 2002 I met Paul Lefebvre for the first time at the NMCC meeting in Ottawa. We met again in September 2002 at the next NMCC meeting in Halifax, Nova Scotia. Paul exposed the Council to the principles, tools and practices in his Leadership Coaching model. This was a first for me - to expand my thinking and learn how, through language and observation to look at the world differently. I was so impressed by Paul and the Coaching piece - that I approached him and booked him to come out to Vancouver, BC in November, 2002 to deliver his session on the 'Coaching Practices for Managers' to as many managers as I could muster. So impressed was I - that I challenged Paul to join me in my quest (or was it a dare?) to "change the world!" (Something I have been personally striving towards in the Public Service of Canada at least)- and guess what? He agreed! A partnership and friendship was formed.

Paul joined me in Vancouver and I walked with him and watched as he took approx. 200 managers as well as a few Executives from all over the Public Service through the Coaching practices. I took it all in and learned something new from every session. I watched and heard from individual managers how this impacted their lives in a positive way. I could actually SEE and FEEL the energy moving in every room - I could see it their eyes and hear it in their voices - and the voice in my own head was the loudest one of all. This is the way to mobilize the coaching energy in the Public Service - one by one. Never before have I been so moved nor affected by such learning. Upon returning to my own office I was approached by some of my own staff who had attended the sessions and heard their stories about how Paul's teaching had made a difference for them and how practical it all seemed. Wow!

I digested the experiences and my newfound knowledge and filed it away for safekeeping. I spoke to Paul a number of times after those sessions - and gathered and shared feedback from the participants. I wanted to continue being involved in Coaching - maybe initiating a Community of Practice, to take the Canadian Center for Management Development (CCMD) 5 day Coaching course - but wasn't sure how to do it or where to start. So I stood back - focused on other issues that occur daily in our work and personal lives and waited.... for something to happen....

On January 13, 2003 it happened. I received a phone call from a gentleman who was coordinating a regional - all staff - learning day for the Dept. of Indian & Northern Affairs Canada (INAC). This gentleman had heard of Paul Lefebvre and his Coaching session from our November sweep - and really wanted to add this to the list of workshops for their upcoming event. As luck (or fate) would have it, Paul was unable to attend but gave this gentleman my name and highly recommended me to GIVE the session.

I spoke with Paul about this and felt extremely uncomfortable. This is not my material - I am not the Master Coach that Paul is - I have only just begun to learn about this model - what if? What if I fail? What if I embarrass myself? What if I disappoint Paul? What if I can't...?

Paul encouraged me to consider this request seriously. He told me how I had committed to him in September. that I wanted to change the world...this is the start of that pledge he helped me to see. He told me how impressed he was with my abilities and that in his observations and interaction with me - he is confident that I "have it" and would be very successful should I choose to challenge myself in this way. He promised to support me in any way I needed and would coach me through the process.

How could I say no to that?!

I called the gentleman from INAC back and accepted the challenge to put on TWO Coaching sessions of 50 people each for their Learning Day. Am I nuts?! I must be!

Then a miracle happened...an old friend/colleague who is now the HR Director in INAC, Vancouver (Shelagh Ryan-McKnee) offered to help co-facilitate. I welcomed her with open arms and started to work with her and others to bring this session into my new reality. We co-developed scenarios for the Coaching practices that spoke to the culture of INAC and we met and discussed our approach. Another co-facilitator came forward from INAC as well - an experienced and energetic manager who is on a CAP assignment (Morlene Tomlinson). I involved both of these "miracles" to add their own insight into how Coaching has affected them and what they could offer from the Coaching Connection website. I wanted them to become involved so that the INAC staff could relate to them being senior managers from the Dept. as well a hope on my part that they would catch the "Coaching Bug"...!

In the days leading up to the Learning Day I found myself flipping from excitement to dread. While flattered to have been asked I still had serious doubts as to my own ability to do this subject any justice. Paul Lefebvre is a Certified Coach and master storyteller. He's had years and years of education and practiced experience to be able to truly teach this to others. I on the other hand, felt inexperienced and ill equipped to succeed. I felt that I was in over my head and worried about the outcome. I wanted the day to be value-added for the participants - I wanted to provide them with not just a good session - but a great session - and that worried me.

I kept hearing Paul's words ringing in my head "Coaching is about helping others to further their own reflection; to help them to observe the world differently - to access the world in a different way and if we can we may see different results. What is the single thing I would like to change and what is it that is stopping me or causing me to think I can't do it? Then the dare...Kathleen, remember Halifax - Let's Change the World!!! Take a risk...and make it happen!"

D-Day came - February 17, 2003 - today will either make or break my reputation and my credibility I secretly thought to myself. But something mysterious was driving me to do this...something internal - something strong; powerful and passionate. That something was my belief in coaching - the practices - the practicality - the shift in thinking that just might "change the world"...lofty goal - but a goal nonetheless. What is that saying? The greatest rewards come from greatest risk. OK.... here I go...

Following my introduction to the group, I started to speak. I provided the participants with background information as to how this movement to "mobilize the coaching energy in the Public Service of Canada" has come about...I spoke about the creation of Regional Inter-Departmental Management Councils; the National Management Community and my mentor Paul Lefebvre. I noticed the level of interest and attentive listening in the room increase as I spoke about how leadership coaching will help each one of them see the world a little differently and how it will help them become better leaders in their own right - regardless of their level in the organization. I felt invigorated, a little nervous at how I would ultimately engage the participants and help them to open their minds a little given the level of complexity and self-motivation that coaching requires. I noticed that participants in the room were taking notes; nodding their heads and better yet - asking questions! My nerves settled completely. I felt confident and secure in my level of knowledge and my own coaching ability. My words flowed with ease - it's happening, I thought, this is it - and to my own surprise - I met the coach in me. Instantly, just like that. The best method to learn a subject is to teach it - I felt a commitment to the subject; the theory and to those who were there to learn. Now I was having fun!

I don't how to say this any differently than...what an incredible experience! Both sessions went better than I had hoped or anticipated...so many participants came up to me, shook my hand and told me what a difference this day had made in their lives. One lady plans to look into the Leadership program at Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC; one man in the room, a naysayer throughout the session (by eye contact and body language), came up and told me he had had an "AHA" moment...all of a sudden it all made sense, it all came together and had a huge impact on him and his thinking - he thanked me for being there; another woman came up and shook my hand and said she couldn't believe how much of a difference this had made for her - she too thanked me for being there.

As people filed out of each session, smiling, shaking my hand and thanking me I was dumbfounded. Could I really have not only survived but actually done a good job?! I felt re-energized; confident and successful.

I wanted to jump up and down and shout "Yahoo"! WOW words don't adequately express my learning and breakthrough in this story - I realized that I do have power, strength, ability and KNOW HOW. I can do this - I took a risk - I believed in myself as Paul and others believed in me to do it - and I am proud of this accomplishment. I'm still up on the ceiling somewhere...! People have commented to me that they have never seen me so energized and pumped up as I am right now. I stretched myself to a new level and guess what? I'm still standing! I made a difference that day in at least three people's lives and for that I am thankful and proud.

I feel like the gardener that Paul saw in me...I planted the seeds - and now they will grow. I'm sure of it!

Kathleen Keenlyside
Manager
Canada Customs & Revenue Agency
Revenue Collections
Vancouver Tax Services Office