Coach + Consultant: September 2007 Archives

Type the phrase "how to write a bio" into Google and the first result that comes up is my article called How to Write a Short Bio. As a result of this high Google ranking, I get enquiries on a daily basis from people needing to write a bio.

Most of the time people are in a hurry to write a bio and therefore happy to simply purchase one of my bio templates. Sometimes, though, I get into an email exchange like the one below. I'm reproducing it here because it's a good example of the issues that come up when trying to write your own bio (names and some details have been changed to protect confidentiality).

-----Original Message-----
From: Smith, Mike X.
Sent: Tuesday, September 25, 2007 10:36 AM
To: barbra@sundquist.ca
Subject: Hi

Hi Barbara. Are you in Canada? I found about you through another Web page where I think you might have been involved in writing the bio for a company (sorry can’t remember the name). But I am also interested in coaching as a possible business. I’ve been in IT for 25 years, 50 years old, midlife blah blah…

In this interview, life coach Daina Puodziunas shares the story of how she took a five year "creative sabbatical" and the benefits it brought her.

How old were you when you started your creative sabbatical?

Daina Puodziunas: 44 or 45. My illness started when I was 40. It took 4 or 5 years before I got to the point where I realized I had to take time out.

What were your living circumstances?

Daina: I was self employed doing workshops. Also had a small housecleaning business. I was a very social person. But I didn’t know if that was really my nature or if I had just been socialized to please by being social. I didn’t know! So I did a thought experiment. I thought “let’s test it out”. And I found out that I am actually a very social person. That I really like people.

It sounds like you wanted to bring yourself down to zero so that you could see what bubbled up naturally for you.

Daina: yes, and wait to see what emerges

How did you tell people that you would not be available to them?

Daina: it was hard. I said different things to different people - whatever I could to get people to accept it. I wasn’t always completely honest when it was someone that I just didn’t want to be friends with anymore. I had a few women friends who were quite controlling. Even still, I could see that some people were hurt. And lots of people couldn’t understand. I’d say “-----“ and they’d say “well, I’ll just drop by sometime” and I’d have to say “no, I’ll have the gate up”

Did you know the giraffe has the biggest heart in relation to its body size of any mammal? That's why I choose it to be our symbol for learning Mastery #1: Establishing and maintaining a relationship of trust

Mastery #1 Definition: Ensuring a safe space and supportive relationship for the client’s personal growth, discovery and transformation.

(the definition is from the members learning guide available at the IAC website)

The keywords to remember for Mastery #1 are TRUST and RAPPORT (remember the giraffe with the extra-big heart).

Some of the ways that you build trust and rapport are by:
• using active listening skills such as paraphrasing and listening for feeling as well as content
• having a warm and supportive tone of voice
• validating the client's feelings
• asking for the client's suggestions and input

Action Item: