Page 56 - April 2021 Voices

COACH CONVERSATIONS

The Three ‘B’s of Club Coaching

Paul Fanning, DTM

Club Coach Coordinator

April 30th will soon be upon us. Two months the years) “we’ve never done it that
remain for those clubs we are coaching to make way before.” Be real. Be honest. Guide

distiguished club status by June 30th. them to the truth about their program,
I had the privilege of attending this month’s their leadership style and ability to adapt and
Region 1 Coaches online meeting hosted by the change—or face club dissolution.
soon-to-be former Co-Region 1 Advisor, Sondra

Nunez. Club coaching is her passion, it is in her e excited! Bring a sense of excitement to the
blood and deeply in her heart. She is sincere Bclub. We can’t expect a club to turn around
about helping club coaches, and by inference, overnight or try new methods and practices if
coached clubs, to be successful this program we approach them in the Ben Stine manner—

year. I gleaned from her candid conversation and bland, cold, and matter of fact. We ourselves
responses to questions several key statements, must be excited by our roles as club coaches
and words of wisdom to club coaches. and be cheerleaders, heralds of what could be,
and the first to applaud, smile and be genuinely

e truthful—The key to coaching is being happy when they make progress or achieve great
Bhonest with the club. What does that mean? success. It is not just a DTM requirement we
We must oftentimes help the club to face the check off by being a club coach. We become a
truth. Even when telling the truth may cause friend, a mentor, a co-pilgrim with them on the

the club officers to say “ouch, that hurts.” That journey. Be enthusiastic. Be a breath of fresh air.
they may even need a coach to channel Jack
Nicholson and tell them “they can’t handle the e a model and mentor. While they may
truth.” Truth about. . . ? Their meetings–are they Bsound alike there is a difference. Modeling

friendly, open to guests, and being inclusive to is what we do as coaches when we show a club
all. Recognizing that certain normal practices how to do something, acting upon it, and being
of Toastmasters are tried and true methods, positive regardless of the outcome. A simple
but just are not working for that particular club. modeling could be showing a club how to conduct

Is the Toastmasters Education program a key a Table Topics session, or how to do an effective
element in the club? We have many who declined evaluation, or give a speech. It might even be
or are not successful in Pathways. And the one I illustrating how to progress in Pathways by
loved the most? (and oft heard myself through showing how you are successful in your chosen

56 ONE COMMUNITY