Post Conference Traces

On the PKP 9.00 am from Warsaw to Krakow.

Two days after the 4th International Coaching Conference.

While travelling on the train this morning from Warsaw to Krakow, between emails and spinning plates, I had time---to ponder and dwell on things. As I looked out of the window, the train, with me in it, hurtling towards Krakow, traces of the conference like perfume, lingered. I was caught by the sight of a single tree- black and resolute- against the still white ground of frozen earth. I was struck by the shape of the tree- like a paper cut-out. I suddenly realised I was able to see more- able to see through them- further---into the distance- through other tree structures---further still into the distance. And so, I was at once stunned and grateful for their graceful nakedness, slipping glimpses of so much more because they were stripped down to their bare structures.

 

Somehow, I made a connection with the conference and found myself mulling over the question that was posed by Laura at the beginning of her session about tools---in my wandering of wonderings, these transparent trees represented the creative tension between coaching tools and our being as coaches. For only four months in the year, we are afforded a depth of view we wouldn’t otherwise have. Isn’t it incredible? Only four months! Maybe, just like nature, we can relax our grip on tools and techniques and bare ourselves to our clients so that they see more and see further through us.