Foundational prescriptive texts consistently identify the role of learning in the coaching process (Whitmore, 2002; Whitworth, Kimsey-House & Sandahl, 1998). Whitworth et al. (1998) explain that a major part in the coach's job is to "deepen the learning" (p. 5), while the International Coach Federation (ICF), the largest regulatory body and professional association for coaching in the world, proposes the facilitation of "learning and results" (International Coach Federation, 1999, p. 4) as one of four major coaching processes.

Without a doubt, "learning is at the heart of coaching" (2003, Skiffington & Zeus, p.30) and it seems to be implicitly understood that in order to achieve coaching outcomes, learning must occur. Yet despite this wide recognition of the inherent significance of learning in coaching, few coaches understand the learning process in coaching and unknowingly limit their clients' results, while putting undue pressure on themselves to "perform".

The Learning-Centred Coaching course teaches coaches how to focus on learning and let results take care of themselves. Through the actual words of coaches and clients, this cutting-edge evidence-based coaching course draws upon over fifteen different learning theories to weave three layers of learning into coaching conversations. Grounded in research, it unites contemporary coaching modalities from across a spectrum of coach training (and the world) with well-substantiated learning theory. Researched, written and designed by Dr Kerryn Griffiths, professional coach and educator, and known for her work by hundreds of coaches throughout the world, Learning-Centred Coaching walks the talk, teaching by example and capitalising on the same coaching/learning processes it explains.

A discovery and experiential learning approach uses the actual words of coaches to model and de-construct coaching conversations, leading students to discover for themselves the process of learning-centred coaching. Theory is presented in context, with real examples and in real language, revealing the ways in which coaching process is grounded in substantiated learning theory. Through action learning coaches are then guided to apply learning-centred coaching with real coaching clients, and gradually they integrate a focus on learning into their coaching practice and succeed in letting their clients' results take care of themselves.

The course includes:

>>> 35 hours of training
>>> 10 hours of coaching as a client (optional*)
>>> 10 hours of coaching a client (optional*)
>>> 5 hours of mentoring (optional*)
>>> A 300 page handbook
>>> Level 4 ReciproCoach membership for one year following the course

Outline of training:

>>> Week 1: Why coaching? Why learning?
>>> Week 2: Self-development and the learning process in coaching
>>> Week 3: Radical relating
>>> Week 4: Going deeper with questions
>>> Week 6: Purposeful listening
>>> Week 7: Learning through discovery coaching
>>> Week 8: Committing to accountability
>>> Week 9: Five levels of action
>>> Week 10: Learning through applied coaching
>>> Week 11: Choice, freedom and responsibility
>>> Week 12: Self-coaching
>>> Week 13: Learning through integrative coaching
>>> Week 14: Coaching to learn

Learning theory addressed:

>>> Rogerian learning
>>> Collaborative learning
>>> Mentoring
>>> Self-directed learning
>>> Social learning
>>> Reflective learning
>>> Adult learning
>>> Experiential learning
>>> Transformative learning
>>> Deep learning
>>> Authentic learning
>>> Action learning
>>> Inductive learning
>>> Discovery learning
>>> Powerful learning
>>> Lifelong learning
>>> Accelerated learning
>>> Problem-based learning
>>> Emotional intelligence

The first course is planned to begin early in 2010 and costs:

>> * Training only: $850 (+ 10% GST for Australian residents) available to students who have completed at least 25 hours of coach specific training already, who have a coaching practice with at least one client for the duration of the course, and who have been coached and mentored for a minimum of 10 hours and 5 hours respectively during the last six months.

>>> Residential option: Add $450 (+ 10% GST for Australian residents) with the inclusion of a 3 day residential component, including all meals and accommodation.

Each course is limited to twelve students and may be facilitated face-to-face and/or via teleconference, making it internationally accessible. For residential courses, weeks 1-7 are covered in the residential weekend, leaving 7 weeks of teleclasses thereafter.