The difference between an OK agile coach and a fantastic agile coach is like the difference between a cook and a chef.
A cook uses recipes. A chef uses the principles and techniques of food preparation.
A cook may experiment, with fingers crossed. A chef creates, with confidence and consistency.
A cook follows directions. A chef understands the ingredients, their chemistry and the circumstances that surround them.
A cook prepares a meal. A chef designs an experience.
And so it goes with coaching.
You can treat it like a cook – read some books, memorize key questions, repeat your favourite processes, experiment and hope for the best.
Or you can treat it like a chef – understand the principles, master proven techniques so that they come to you naturally, bring your experience into new contexts and participate in coaching conversations with confidence and ease.
We offer professional coach training in the agile context. Our program is also accredited by ICAgile and meets the learning objectives of its Certified Professional in Agile Coaching (ICP-ACC) designation.
Coach Skills for the Agile Workplace gives you the opportunity to practise and master the coaching techniques you need as an agile coach in a safe and supportive environment, so you can use them fluently on the job.
You'll practise coaching from Day One!
You believe people are capable of more than they know.
You’ve seen good coaching at work and want to learn how to do that.
You’ve seen not-so-good coaching at work and want to learn how not to do that.
You already understand the agile mindset, values, principles and foundational concepts.
If you’re going to be called an agile “coach,” you want to be the best coach you can be.
You’re willing to be a beginner. Masterful coaching takes practice. You can’t rush it.
Anyone who is only interested in certification.
During our time together, we’ll cover these topics. We’ll cover the basics of professional coaching within the context of an agile workplace, as outlined in the learning objectives of icAgile.
Coach, Teach, Facilitate, Mentor – What’s the Difference?
Confidence – you’ll know you’ve been trained to meet the standards of agile coaching and professional coaching.
Focus – when you don’t have to wonder, “What do I say now?” you can focus on outcome, not process.
Comfort – you’ll avoid the awkward uncertainty many agile coaches experience as you make the shift from being directive to being facilitative.
Improved interactions – using the coach approach smooths relationships.
Clarity – you’ll know the difference between coaching, facilitating, training and mentoring and when to use each.
Certification-ready – if you wish to seek a coaching credential from the International Association of Coaching, you’ll be prepared for its level one written exam. And if you wish to seek an agile credential from ICAgile, successful completion earns you the ICP-ACC certificate.
Leave your work at the office so you can focus.
Be ready not to have all the answers.
We’ve tried to keep things simple. Three days of training for $2,018 (+HST). A 10% “earlybird” discount applies up to four weeks before the start. (Use discount code EARLYBIRD at payment process.) And you can pay by MasterCard or VISA.
Cost includes the ICAgile Certification Fee.
WOULD FRIENDS AND COLLEAGUES BENEFIT FROM COACH TRAINING?
You are paying in Canadian dollars.
Live calls for session starting in January will take place on Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern. Current schedule is January 3, 10, 17, 24, 31, February 7,14, 21, March 7, 14,21,28 (subject to change).
Live calls for session starting in September will take place on Thursdays, 1:00-2:00 PM Eastern. Current schedule is September 5, 12, 18, October 3, 17, 24, 31, November 7, 14, 21, 28, December 5 (subject to change).
Coach Skills for the Agile Workplace is built on a blended learning model that combines self-paced online learning with live teleclasses.
Each week, for 12 weeks, we’ll introduce a new module. The material will be posted in our online learning centre.
You’ll have a chance to read the material and raise questions and discuss the material online before our live class. I’ll be posting questions in the chat.
Later that week week, you’ll join the group for a live teleclass, where we’ll apply the material and you’ll have a chance to practise coaching. (Most professional coach schools deliver all or part of their training via teleclass and it works very well.) The classes are recorded.
There will be quizzes throughout the program.
You’ll receive thoughtful and constructive feedback on your in class coaching.
Learners are also encouraged to share ideas and questions about what they are learning.
You’ll be expected to coach between sessions – coach anyone who’ll let you coach them. The only way to get good at coaching is to do it!
You’ll also need to read the learning guides, complete quizzes and respond to questions in the online chat. That’s how I know you’ve done the work. After all, there’s a certificate at the end of this.
We’re not kidding about this. This program is for people who understand that they get out what they put in. Our organizations need good coaching and good coaches. There’s a lot more to coaching mastery than most people recognize. Its interesting. It’s rewarding. It’s fun. But it’s not a doddle.
Calls will be recorded and available on the learning site as soon as they end.
You will have access to the learning site for at least one year from registration.
We’ve tried to keep things simple. We offer you the choice of a single payment or three installments. And you can pay by MasterCard or VISA.
Sales tax will be applied at checkout for Ontario residents.
Will I automatically get a certification?
Short answer: No. The ICP-ACC isn’t one of those certifications that you get just because you drop some money on a course. Your participation is important. You’ll be sharing ideas, coaching other learners, being coached and more. There’s also a quiz at the end. But, trust us, you’ll WANT to participate. This program attracts amazing people and is based on some super useful skills you’ll be happy to try out in class.
Can I realy learn to be a coach in 12 weeks? Or three days?
The short answer is NO. However, our time together is long enough to get you started. The 12-week version provides time for the ideas to take hold – and gives you time to practise between modules. The workshop version provides intense practice time, so you’re immersed in coaching for three solid days. The course will introduce the concepts and patterns of coaching. Practice takes you the rest of the way. The only way to become a masterful coach is to do it – one coaching conversation at a time.
Our program is a blend of online and live learning.
Learning guides for each module present the information about the particular coaching topic we’re examining that week. You may read them online or download them as PDF files.
In each module, I pose key questions in the Chat Feature to spark your thinking and learning. This can lead to a lively discussion. It’s the online equivalent of class participation.
Each week, there’s a live teleclass of 60 minutes. We’ll discuss some of the key points of the topic for the week. Then you’ll put the skills in practice by coaching each other in short “laser coaching” sessions.
The teleclasses are recorded and the recordings appear in the [Events] tab once they have taken place.
There are several quizzes to solidify your learning.
If I find an article or video that relates to our topic, I’ll add it to the module.
There is a separate section for extra resources that will be useful to you as a coach.
How do I join the live calls?
The live calls take place on a conference bridge line and last 60 minutes. The learning platform records the call automagically and posts it right away.
You will have your own individual number and password to dial.
All the live calls are listed in the [Webinars] tab in the online learning platform.
You’ll be able to access the course material through our Ruzuku site for at least a year from the date the course begins. As well, the learning guides for each module are available as downloadable .PDF files.
It’s always best to be on the call live – especially for this course, since that’s when you have a chance to practise what you’re learning.The learning system will send you email notifications in advance, including an hour before the start time.
Please let us know if you must miss a call so we know not to expect you.
So what’s with this low price?
People tell me I should charge a lot more for this program. I get that. The value participants receive is much, much more than what I’m asking. However, I know a lot of people in our agile community fund our own training. I don’t want someone who might be a great coach to go without this training just because they don’t have a lot of spare cash or their boss won’t pay.
We don’t want money to be a roadblock for someone who’ll be an awesome coach. Contact us. Maybe we can work something out.
Don’t just take it from us, let our course participants do the talking!
When I registered myself for this course, the only thing I had in my mind was certification. But after the second session, I realized that the amount of learning I would have at the end of the course would be phenomenal and the course definitely exceeded my expectations.
The participants were wonderful and the instruction from Sue Johnston has been top-notch. Five stars to her training and coaching skills. No certification would ever beat the amount of learning I have had from this course.
Learning amongst one’s peers can be daunting for some coaches, however, Sue’s light-hearted candor is so disarming, I felt I was in an emotionally safe environment right away in her classroom and was able to engage my classmates along with Sue in dealing with the toughest, long-standing questions I’ve had about how an agile coach should be. I highly recommend enrolling in and completing all of Sue Johnston’s learning programs, wherever you are in your learning journey as an agile coach. I know I’m helping my agile teams much, much more now that I have. Ultimately, for strong, competent agile coaches everywhere, it’s ALL about helping the teams and the client isn’t it?
“Sue created a welcoming environment for our coaching circle. I enjoyed being able to practice my coaching skills in a safe environment where I could get feedback from Sue and other peers.
“I’d recommend this course because it wasn’t solely about learning the techniques. Sue is a warm and compassionate person who brought not only her experience and skills as our facilitator, but also her passion for people.
“I had a feeling during the course that I am absorbing a lot by practicing. Sue’s guidance is gentle, clear and she is able to explain very subtle differences that make a big impact on the effectiveness and the style of coaching.
“The group of participants was inspired and collaborative and it felt safe to communicate and learn. The course was well paced and enriched with lots of learning material.
We know that certification may be important to you. That’s why we’ve worked to be sure this program meets the standards of both the coaching world and the agile world.
Coach Skills for the Agile Workplace is accredited by the International Association of Coaching (IAC), a body established, in 2003, for the purpose of certifying coaches worldwide, based on coaching competence, alone. We’re licensed to teach coaches using the competency model it uses to assess the coaches it certifies – the IAC Masteries™.
So, if you choose to pursue a coach certification, independently, you’ll be prepared to meet IAC’s exacting examination standards.
Coach Skills for the Agile Workplace also meets the learning objectives of ICAgile, an organization established in 2010, to support education in the Agile space.
As an icAgile accredited program, we can offer offer internationally recognized completion certificates in the agile coaching track – leading to the ICP-ACC designation. It’s exciting to be part of the process that will shape coach training for our community.
We know what it takes to be agile.
We’re part of both communities.
We know where to go for advice, information and good ideas.
Sue Johnston’s interest in emotional intelligence led her to formal coach training, in 2003, and she’s been learning, teaching and practising coaching ever since. Her latest learning is in the Advanced Coaching program at Royal Roads University, Victoria, B.C., where she’s immersed in Team and Group Coaching. Sue was a founding member and has received coach certification (Master level) from the International Association of Coaching. She trained in brain-based coaching with Neuroleadership Group and is also qualified to interpret an array of psychometric assessments. She’s also a coach and trainer at Leanintuit, a partnership of agile professionals working to help teams and organizations adopt and adapt new ways of working together.
Sue’s professional and academic interests have always been communication, teamwork and culture. She spent 10 years as a reporter in daily news before moving to the corporate world, where, as an employee communication specialist in a giant Canadian bank, she was involved in many large scale change and technology projects. More recently, friends introduced her to the agile community, where she found people eager to develop and practise their communication skills and learn more about coaching others.
When Sue first heard about agile software development, it all sounded strangely familiar. Teams, co-location, pairing, business reps on the team, people first. She’d seen it before, as a user documentation and training person – and the unofficial “team expert” – on a mission-critical software project at BMO in the ’90s. They were using SmallTalk, which, it turns out, was the genesis of Agile!
Andrew Annett, who advised on the program, has been a practising agile coach since 2009 and a professional coach since 2010. He’s certified in brain-based coaching through Neuroleadership Group and is also qualified to administer the EQi emotional intelligence assessment.
Andrew’s been studying the impact of computers on business and people since he bought his first Kaypro in the ’80s. He’s worked at introducing, implementing or integrating technology throughout his career. He’s worked in large financial services organizations, technology giants and IT consultancies and is a veteran of several organizational transformation initiatives and many large, complex product delivery programs.
An agile practitioner with an MBA and a PMP, he connects the worlds of classical project management and agile practice. He has a gift for explaining technology in ways that non-techies understand. He currently works as an enterprise agile coach in an organization facing the challenge/opportunity of growth and change.
Both Sue and Andrew are frequent speakers at agile events in North America.
Need more? See About Us.
If you have a number of people in your organization who want to learn coaching skills for the workplace, please contact Sue and we’ll talk.