You don’t need to be a coach to have coaching conversations at work. But you do need to learn coaching skills. We believe that everyone can be more effective communicators by having Curious, Challenging, Courageous and Championing Conversations.

Coaching Training for Managers

You don’t need to be a coach to have coaching conversations at work. But you do need to learn coaching skills.

As professional leadership coaches, coaching supervisors and trainers with decades of experience between us, we know that most managers are expected to take on the role of a coach, with little or no training and are invariably ill-prepared for the task. What they believe coaching is, or what they’ve experienced in the past, in reality is a nicely framed instruction or a conversation based on someone else’s agenda. Not coaching at all. Our aim is to not train managers to be coaches, but to teach coaching skills for managers to have more effective coaching conversations at work.

Curious Conversations open programmes:
We hope to be be bringing the fully 'in person' sessions back in 2021! In the meantime, why not talk to us about running a virtual Curious Conversations in-house with your team. We can work with your IT protocols and flex the course around your specific coaching for manager's needs.

84% of workers say that coaching should be part of every business’s management and development programme.

(City and Guilds research Nov 2018)

79% of UK professionals say they consider coaching useful for adopting new technologies and ways of working

(City and Guilds research Nov 2018)

"Thank you again to both Kate and Gwyneth for the brilliant sessions, you managed to find a fantastic group and I can already say I find myself thinking in a different way when it comes to the conversations I have and the listening I do…or sometimes don’t do! The sessions felt so informal and comfortable yet also so structured and productive at the same time, perfect learning experience for myself definitely." (Hotel Area General Manager, Edinburgh)

(Curious Conversations)

"I can't recommend Kate and Gwyneth highly enough, I recently took part in their curious conversations 3 day course and found them to be both really engaging, inspiring and motivating. Having done very little in the way of coaching myself I wasn't sure what to expect. The way in which the material was delivered was fantastic, interesting, relevant and lots of hands on practice. I've already been using the tools in my day job and can instantly see the positive impact. Thank you Kapow Coaching!" Nicky G, Commercial Director, Edinburgh

(Curious Conversations)

"Thank you both again for the invitation to join the open programme – I got so much out of it. As I said to Kate, you have created something really accessible to everyone and very special so I wish you all the success with it." Senior HR Business Partner, Edinburgh

(Curious Conversations)

Coaching Training

Curious Conversations

Curious Conversations
4 coaching conversations in 3 days (live programme)
4 coaching conversations in 5 x 3.15 hour sessions (virtual programme)

You don’t need to be a coach to have coaching conversations at work. But you do need to learn coaching skills.

What is it?

Curious Conversations promises a head, heart and hand experience for managers to learn the core coaching skills and other techniques to have Curious, Challenging, Championing and Courageous Conversations in the context of everyday work. Conversations that most managers have on a weekly basis, but don't need a coaching qualification to have them.

How does it work?

Over 3 days of live training or 5 virtual sessions, managers will learn how to:

improve their communication and relationship skills
improve the job satisfaction of staff and themselves
reduce conflict at work
develop new self-management techniques when dealing with difficult people and situations
use foundational coaching skills in a work context

The programme is delivered by two professionally cerfitifed Co-Active Coaches.

84% of workers say that coaching should be part of every business’s management and development programme. (City and Guilds research Nov 2018)

As professional leadership coaches, coaching supervisors and trainers with decades of experience between us, we know that most managers are expected to take on the role of a coach, with little or no training and are invariably ill-prepared for the task. What they believe coaching is, or what they’ve experienced in the past, is a nicely framed instruction or a conversation based on someone else’s agenda. Not coaching at all. Curious Conversations trains managers to not be coaches, but to have coach-like conversations at work.

Open programme dates:
2022 still to be confirmed

Get in touch with Kate via email to book your places or why not invite us to run Curious Conversations in-house, we can be flexible around what platform suits your organisation and how to chunk down the programme to fit into your time constraints.

Action Learning

Action Learning (virtual and on-site)
Learning to listen and not give advice

Following a coach-approach, Action Learning utilises the skills of active listening, questioning, support, challenge, inspiration, reflection, and action; all within a safe and confidential space. It offers a process for people, groups, and organisations to resolve real issues and problems in real time and to provide a system of accountability that supports action and learning.

What is it?

Whether run virtually or on site, Action Learning develop leadership skills, decision making and creative problem solving it helps to create trust and deepen relationships within the Set. In addition, it develops individuals on a personal and professional level by regular use of:

Asking powerful and focused questions
Developing creative and open-minded solutions
Managing complex issues
Sharing experiences and finding commonalities
Bringing new perspectives and problem-solving solutions to a real situation

How does it work?

An Action Learning Set typically has between 5 and 7 members, but within the virtual arena this is reduced to 5 or 6.

Each Action Learning Set (ALS) is made up of the facilitator (the external coach), the Set Members who in turn becomes the Issue Holder and experience how to find their personal solution through the insightful questions, observations and reflections of the set. Depending on the groups need, supporting training is woven through the session to raise the level of listening, feedback, challenging and questioning abilities.

Action Learning Sets are run over 6 sessions every 3 to 5 weeks and can last half or full days depending on whether run virtually or on-site. Some sets may choose to continue after the 6 sessions.

Get in touch to find out more.

Mentoring Skills

Mentoring Skills
Mentoring skills for managers

Every workplace uses mentors in their own unique way whether informally by looking after new recruits, young people or recently seconded team members or more formally through a buddy system or even matched mentor programme.

Depending on what your needs are we can offer anything from a two-hour sessions to full days of training for managers, helping you to:

Develop key mentoring skills using coaching-based tools and techniques
Look at your mentoring processes and how they can be more effective
Provide mentoring supervision for your in-house mentors
Training on how to mentor millennials

Whatever your needs, these interventions will help your organisation and managers strengthen your Mentoring Muscles by considering the clarity of the role, expected behaviour and the boundaries of mentoring, as well as fundamental mentoring skills. It’s a great opportunity to reflect upon and refresh your current mentoring training at work.

For more information and to find out how we can help you avoid the Generation Gap at work, contact Kate today