Hi Eric,
I'll start by saying there are several different schools of thought about coaching - read around enough and you'll find debates about if a coach should give advice or not, what a coach should or shouldn't say etc. My advice would be to deliberately experience different styles so you can have a clear idea for yourself how you are going to coach so you can make a deliberate choice if you give advice, or not, or if you choose to ask the question "why?" etc. (Plus different perspectives gives you added flexibility when working with clients.)
There's lots of different definitions of what coaching is and I have to say my current favourite is Michael's "meaningful conversation" one. Listen/watch as many meaningful conversations as you can - I used to spend at least a couple of hours every day commuting and I used to listen to recordings then. I passed many a car or train journey seeing if I could hear what had prompted that particular coach to ask the question they did, phrase a statement the way they did, use the tone that they had etc And also noticing the response that it generated in the person they were conversing with. It certainly made traffic jams far more interesting and enjoyable
As Diane suggests Michael's hayhouse radio show is a great opportunity for you to do this. If you are a member of solutions cafe you'll also find audio where Michael interviews/has other coaches on as special guests.
I know you said you read a ton and I'd suggest that Michael's books (particularly Supercoach) and Nancy Kline's 2 books are a great read. Ideas and approaches develop over time but if you wanted a couple of books written earlier then there is John Whitmore's Coaching for performance - first published nearly 20 years ago and perhaps an odd sounding choice - W. Timothy Gallwey's "The inner game of tennis" (published 1975).
As for my guiding statements, they've changed over time and sometimes dependent on who I'm working with. "It's not about Jen" is perhaps my most consistant over time and one that I had stuck on my wall for a long time - ie when I'm working with a client keep out of my head and listen and "be" with them 100%. That post-it acted as a reminder if I got caught up in any self doubt etc during a session, things like "can I really ask that question?", "what will they think of me if I do ask that?", etc etc
My other tip for a resource is have a coach yourself. I know that may sound like I'm biased, 'cos "coach" is one of the labels I use but it will give you an entirely different perspective on the process as well as giving you an appreciation for the value.
Hope that helps
Jen
