This article, originally published on the International Association of Coaching (IAC) website, is written by Loving Your Work coach, Leanne Chan.
A recent IAC HK Chapter event displayed how the IAC Coaching Dream Enablers empower the Shatin HKIVE (Hong Kong Institute of Vocational Education) students, who are the first IAC Coaching Students Club members in Hong Kong to have authentic conversations among different generational groups.
The group included experienced coaches, student development officers, professional consultants, human resources and under-graduated students. The discussion was all about the possibilities of introducing coaching to the education field and providing an impact on the Post-90s generation for their personal development and enhancement.
To start with, as the facilitator of the evening, I expressed the key driver to move along this meaningful project with HK Shatin IVE: we believe the Post-90s are our future leaders and they have potential to create a better future. They are the under-craft diamonds and will show their shiny edges upon their awareness of what has driven them most. We followed this discussion with an interview with different student coaches. Below are some of their observations and discoveries through this student coaching journey:
- “Before this student coaching journey, my knowledge of coaching was zero. Now I have the confidence to say that I understand the concept of coaching conversation skills at a higher level.”
- “Coaching took her out of the internet world, into a more realistic, thoughtful process to sort out options and solutions.”
- “My coach acts as a lighthouse, guides me in the right direction. Drives me to think deeply about what happiness I would like to get from my job.”
- “Coaching strengthens my self-awareness and communication skills, and has improved my family relationship.”
- “My coach empowers me to think of more possibilities; I apply this in the workplace and to myself. I ask myself who am I and what I want and need. It is really an amazing journey.”
- “I now know how to consider others’ feelings and I intend to apply the coaching skills to support an introverted student to take one step further. It turns out can express his own ideas in public.”
After the interviews, we had a sincere conversation among all the participants. We discussed how these students will be able to apply coaching conversations in their future workplaces. As coaching is still very new to the education field in Hong Kong, the idea that coaching can begin with young adults raised many options.
- Build up the campus coaching culture, sow the seed in early stage
- Set up the Student Coaching Club in different undergraduate colleges
- Start the coaching culture even earlier from secondary school
To conclude the meeting, we shared the strong belief that life impacts life; How wonderful and meaningful it will be when our students, teachers and education professionals play the major roles as future leader coaches, career coaches, parent coaches, life coaches, etc. It will encourage our society to become more inclusive, innovative, and collaborative.
