Over the years, I’ve learned, grown, and built meaningful relationships—especially on LinkedIn.

I’m incredibly grateful for the inspiring people I’ve met during these first weeks of my new adventure. Your openness, curiosity, and support mean the world to me: Aga, Alejandro, Amira, Anja, Anne, Birgit, Catherine, Christian, Dennis, Elke, Eve, Hans, Hubertus, Irina, Jörg, Kidist, Lars, Michel, Navid, Nicole, Oliver, Petra, Remo, Reyhan, Sascha, Silke, Stefanie, Torsten, Varinka, Willi, Wolfgang, Yevgen and more.

But I want to do more.

I want to create, share, and manage content and data—independently and collaboratively. These past few weeks have made one thing clear: while large platforms offer convenience, they also create dependencies. That’s why I’m expanding my focus beyond LinkedIn.

Stay Connected—On Your Terms

Twice a month, I’ll be sharing insights, personal reflections, and invitations to special events on coaching, peer learning, and community building.

And here’s a little secret—there’s something special waiting for you. But only if you take the first step.

Looking forward to continuing this journey together!

#Coaching #PeerLearning #CommunityBuilding #Networking #NewBeginnings

The post Beyond LinkedIn: Nurturing Connections first appeared on Flow Discovery.

But here’s the catch: what’s often marketed as “AI-powered coaching” is, in reality, more like AI-powered mentoring or AI-powered training.

Take a recent example: I attended a webinar hosted by an “AI-powered coaching company.” They proudly shared a case study about making personal coaching accessible to most employees. But some quotes in the conversation between the L&D manager and the AI CEO made me pause:

• “It only takes five minutes—get a quick tip!”
• “AI coach doesn’t ask executives too many questions”
• “Help me solve this problem—average session length is six to eight minutes.”

Would any HR professional describe these brief interactions as effective coaching? I doubt it.

To top it off, they claimed that customizing their AI system to fit the company required just five hours. It made me wonder: should they have asked their AI “coach” about the limits of AI-powered coaching?

Coaching is 100% Human

Here’s the reality: authentic coaching thrives on what makes us uniquely human:

• Connection
• Empathy
• Emotions
• Lived experiences
• Intuition
• Cultural context
• Presence

While AI can’t replicate these qualities, it can enhance the coaching process in meaningful ways.

AI as a Partner, Not a Replacement

A great example comes from a webinar hosted by Solutions Academy. They showcased an AI solution as a learning partner for coaches, helping identify patterns in conversations and suggesting improvements based on specific ICF PCC markers. This doesn’t replace the depth and insight of an experienced supervisor. However, it addresses a need of coaches for self-review and continuous improvement.

The Takeaway

AI-powered coaching can be a powerful ally, offering structure, data, and insights—but let’s not confuse that with the transformative depth of human coaching.

#CoachingExcellence #HumanConnection #AIinHR #LeadershipDevelopment #ContinuousImprovement

Have you explored AI tools for your coaching practice? Share your experience!

The post “AI-Powered Coaching: The Secret Behind ABC Company’s Transformation!” first appeared on Flow Discovery.

One of our co-active trainers used a powerful visualization for this: imagine a coachee standing in front of a rock, entirely focused on it. Coaching the problem would mean examining the rock and figuring out ways to remove it. In contrast, coaching the whole person means helping coachees grow by tapping into their resources, creativity, emotions, body, mind, and spirit—so they can see the flowers and richness of life beyond the rock. This is about supporting the coachee’s whole self, fully expressed.

During my intermediate co-active coaching training, I realized that the coach I had previously wasn’t coaching me as a whole person. At that time, I was struggling with my manager over my desire for more freedom in leading my team, so I sought out an internal coach. As I’m now a coach I can assess that this internal coach did not coach me as a whole person, but offered mentoring. They didn’t address my emotions, body language, or my life environment—they focused purely on logical ways to tackle the problem.

This personal experience has made me very aware of the importance of really coaching the whole person. So, I struggle to remember a session where I coached the problem myself. There are sessions where I’ve to leave my role as a coach and take over another role. One of my coachees shared their pain and strong emotions about being treated in a way by colleagues that were in my eyes clearly stepping over a red line regarding our code of business conduct. So, I sensed the strong emotions in myself and decided to stop the coaching. We discussed about the best way to handle the topic as part of our company guidelines and to look for specialized support available in our company for these cases.

In these moments, it’s essential to remember that we can press the “Stop Coaching” button. Not all topics or situations can be solved through coaching alone.

How do you set boundaries around what coaching can and cannot address?

#CoActiveCoaching #WholePerson #ProfessionalDevelopment

The post Am I Coaching the Whole Person or Just a Problem? first appeared on Flow Discovery.

That was my state of mind after the three-hour ICF redentialing Exam. My head felt empty, and my body was tired from sitting for so long, constantly bumping my knee against the computer under the desk. I was incredibly relieved when the Pearson VUE proctor handed me the paper with the word “PASSED” on it.

I’d like to share how I prepared for the ICF Credentialing Exam. Important: ICF has introduced a new exam for Associate Certified Coach (ACC) candidates that is not comparable to my experience as the new exam consists of 60 multiple choice questions.

To be eligible for the ICF credentialing exam, I needed to have:

• 60+ hours of coaching education
• 100+ hours of coaching experience
• 10 hours of mentor coaching with an eligible mentor coach
• Successful completion of a performance evaluation

I met these requirements thanks to the 25-week CPCC course—big thanks to the Co-Active Institute for one of the best learning experiences of my life! The CPCC course motivated me to work with around ten coachees in parallel to log those 100 coaching hours within a year.

When signing up for the exam, you can choose to take it online or at a Pearson VUE testing center. I highly recommend the in-person option. I took my exam at the Pearson VUE center in Heilbronn, hosted by Bechtle.

How did I prepare?

The exam presents 81 – the new exam has three less – coaching scenarios in three hours. For each, you need to select both the best and worst actions out of four choices.

The questions are based on the eight ICF Core Competencies. Resources that I found particularly helpful included:

• ICF materials on the Code of Ethics and Core Competencies https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/core-competencies
• ICF video series on Core Competency 1: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=7pxYhGVI2h0
• Lyssa DeHart’s video series on Ethical Standards: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Y7rCv1-mPEg
• ICF Sample Exam Questions (https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/credentialing-exam-content)
• PCC Markers (https://coachingfederation.org/credentials-and-standards/performance-evaluations/pcc-markers)

Additionally, I took Lyssa DeHart’s “ICE Demystified” course, which was incredibly helpful in understanding why certain actions are considered best or worst. The course even simulates the exam with eight practice questions. It’s important to note that none of the sample questions appear on the actual exam, but they’re structured similarly.

Peer learning is my secret weapon. That’s why I organized a peer exchange session with coaches from the SAP Global Coaching Program.

Finally, I created a one-page A4 “cheat sheet” for exam day. On one side, I listed the key points for choosing the best answer, and on the other side, the points for the worst. Lyssa DeHart recommends the ACCAT model, which she explains and practices in her course (best answer vs. worst answer):

• A: Asking and acknowledging vs. Telling, advising, choosing
• C: Client-centered vs. Coach-centered
• C: Curiosity vs. Checklist approach
• A: Awareness of judgments and biases vs. Judging the client, unaware of biases
• T: Transparency and responsiveness vs. Lack of transparency and responsiveness

Although no materials are allowed during the exam, you’re given a blank A4 board and a pen. I memorized my cheat sheet and wrote it out as soon as I started the exam. It was my anchor for tackling the tough questions—especially when the two worst options were hard to differentiate.

The exam must be retaken every three years, so I’m always open to hearing your best tips and your experience with the new ACC exam!

What strategies have helped you prepare for your coaching credentials?

#Coaching #ExamPreparation #CredentialingExam #ICFCoreCompetencies

The post ACC Exam Preparation Tips first appeared on Flow Discovery.

As members of the esteemed #meinZiel23 Community Management Peer Learning circle, we’ve embarked on a 12-week adventure to uncover the hidden gems of community management. Now, we’re putting the final touches on a post-parade, sharing the treasures we’ve unearthed during our journey.

On my #meinZiel22 quest, I had the pleasure of cocreating blog posts in tandem with the marvellous Franzi, Ingo, Kerstin, Silke, and Tanja. Our Swiss peer learner Franz was itching to learn more about the five creative duet methods I employed:

1. Cross-Interview
2. Parallel Slalom
3. Art Inspiration
4. Theory U Inspiration
5. Ping Pong

I’ve assembled a gallery of sketches in the following slides, each illustrating a different writing method. Accompanying the images, you’ll find helpful explanations and a link to a real example of each technique.

After all, it’s never too late to share what is beneficial in the present.

The post 5 Ways to Make Duet Blogging Work for You first appeared on Flow Discovery.

In 2022 I accompanied eight colleagues from SAP as a coach – many fulfilling hours experienced.

I want to support people who make our world a better place for future generations: Change Makers.

Not everyone can afford to have a coach at the moment.

Therefore, I offer two “pro bono” coaching seats – professional coaching with significantly reduced or no fee for the common good.

Get in touch with me if you can start in January / February 2023. Wonderful insights wait for your discovery.

We will clarify details in a chemistry “Appetizer” session.

The post Two “Pro Bono” Coaching Seats first appeared on Flow Discovery.

Small treats for everyday use to be shared with friends and to spark inspiring conversations. Kind of an excellent metaphor for what a post on LinkedIn can be.

Instead of driving 1,300 kilometers to Biarritz, my wife and I decided to buy TGV train tickets. As a result, we experienced a relaxed arrival and return journey with a lot of time for talking, writing, and reading.

I had bought Karin Kuschik’s book “50 sentences that make life easier” (only available in German) for the trip. She is a business coach and a gifted writer. The book offers 50 pintxos for the mind, soul, and heart in the form of stories, inspirations, and insights. You can pick and enjoy each chapter in any order: I love this kind of flexible book.

“I can’t afford not to do that.” is one of the 50 sentences that resonated most with me. Kuschik connects this sentence in a personal story with insights from the book “The Top Five Regrets of the Dying” by Bronnie Ware:

• I wish I’d dared to live a life true to myself, not the life others expected of me
• I wish I didn’t work so hard
• I wish I’d dared to express my feelings
• I wish I had stayed in touch with my friends
• I wish that I had let myself be happier

So, I’m enjoying the now, letting go of old beliefs, and have decided that I prefer to take it easy.

When is the next time you will say in a relaxed way: “I can’t afford not to do that”?

Categories: balance, discovery, energy

Hashtags: #pintxos #lifecoaching #books #liferegrets #lettinggo

The post I can’t afford not to do that first appeared on Flow Discovery.

Why are there so many coaches?

“Coach” is not a protected term. Anyone can call themselves a coach. That is undoubtedly a factor in the impression that there are “so many coaches”. A web search for “coach” in my small town alone turns up over twenty hits.

In everyday life, people talk about “coach” for somebody who, in fact, is a “trainer”. Additionally, people use “coach” but mean “mentor”, i.e. someone who has the answers to my questions. As with the coach, this is not a relationship at eye level.

I don’t coach a problem, but the client as a whole person. The ICF defines coaching as “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. ” (Source: International Coaching Federation)

The ICF estimates the number of coaches worldwide at over 70,000; 70% are women. Coaching is a $3 billion global market growing at more than 10% annually (Source: ICF Global Coaching Study 2020).

In recent years there has been a change in the perception of coaching: from coaching as a measure to support employees with performance problems to a personal development offering to master new challenges or to shape the big agenda of life. As a result, coaching has a much more positive connotation, both among clients and companies.

Coaching has also become more widespread in companies: while it was previously only available to top executives, it is now accessible to more and more employees. That is why an increasing number of companies are setting up internal coaching programs to cover the need for coaches. Hence, leading to a growing demand for coaches.

In an article, Josh Bersin, one of my favourite analysts from the people tech world, also cites the emergence of online coaching platforms like BetterUp or CoachHub as evidence and response to the increasing demand for coaches.

In a rapidly changing world, people are exposed to challenging situations, whether at work or privately. Or I’m in a new phase of my life, and I’m looking for orientation, as I experienced it during my sabbatical. As a result, some people are ready to hire a neutral reflection partner: A coach holds the client’s agenda and is confident that the client has the resources to find a solution.

Continuous learning is becoming increasingly important. The coaches I work with show incredible curiosity and a great desire to continuously learn —people with the curiosity “gene” love to work as coaches. The more people become continuous learners, the more coaches there will be.

Ultimately, coaching also offers a flexible way to build your income, depending on experience and company constellation in a range of 120 – 240 EUR per hour in Germany (Source: Coaching Magazin – in German). Furthermore, thanks to the experiences of the pandemic years, many people have become accustomed to experiencing coaching via video conference. Thus significantly increasing the flexibility for the coaches and making life as a coach more attractive.

How do you manage a coaching business while still working and is this the opposite of being mindful to yourself?

I have created “calendar space” for my part-time coaching business with a four-day week.

I have agreed with my manager that I will work 5-10% of my working hours as a coach for colleagues; i.e. coaching is part of my job, same as for the other 600 internal coaches at SAP. Moreover, I’m currently directly supporting the Global Coaching Program at SAP as a fellow.

Coaching is a wonderful experience. I am fulfilled when I can accompany clients for a few weeks. The sessions with my clients are the highlight of my week. It’s so enriching to coach a person as a whole for an hour with full presence and curiosity. It’s really the opposite of stress.

Coaching offers many mindful moments because I’m with the client in the “here and now”. Since I do it part-time, I have also set myself a limit on the number of clients: a maximum of eight clients in parallel.

With many experienced coaches out there and the number continuously increasing, how do you differentiate yourself to be successful?

Yes, there are many very experienced coaches on the road. For example, during my Co-Active coaching training, I benefited from excellent coaches as the “front of the room” leaders. That’s positive because actually everyone needs a coach: having someone who accompanies you in your development and transformation is truly priceless.

A coaching relationship is very personal. Therefore, there is always a first “date” in an engagement; I call it “Appetizer“, others prefer to speak of “Chemistry Session”. The chemistry between client and coach must be right. It is a conscious decision on both sides for or against an engagement at eye level.

Therefore, it is essential to develop your style. Authenticity is a crucial factor. Every coach is a personality, just as every client is unique.

I’m a part-time coach. I want to experience every coaching session with joy and sense its impact. That’s why I choose people as clients who want to transform. I enjoy working with people who make our world better for the next generations: Changemakers.

Eventually, I live from the exchange with other brilliant coaches: I am part of the SAP Coaching Community, have initiated an internal SAP Co-Active Coaching Peer Circle together with Claudia Becker and share my coaching business experience with four outstanding Co-Active Coaching colleagues.

What is your perspective on these questions?

You are welcome to share them in the comments.

I love to hear from you: I’m open to further questions and article requests; please send them to me.

Categories: #coaching #career

Tags: #threequestions #part-time #uniqueness #mindfulness #coachingbusiness

The post Re: Coaching: Three question marks first appeared on Flow Discovery.

Rediscover your strengths – another sabbatical experiment. My sabbatical has shown me another treasure. My current network is rich. There are so many people I’ve not taken the time to connect with yet. The more connections I nurture, the more synchronicity happens. I may best explain synchronicity with the following quote:

Did you ever observe to whom the accidents happen? Chance favours only the prepared mind.

Louis Paster

I had a deep conversation with Silke on her coaching education experience offered by CTI. Silke Klees works as a coach. Thanks to Isa Zöller and the Working Out Loud activities at SAP, I met her. Both Silke and Isa offer also Design Your Life workshops.

Rediscover your strengths

Silke recommended that I participate in a CliftonStrengths 34 assessment, formerly known as Gallup Strength Finder. This assessment is based on decades of research to assess people’s talents. It focuses on what you naturally do best. The formula is Talent x Investment = Strength.

The assessment is not for free. It costs about 50 Euro. If you also want to do it, please opt for a time when you are at your best: the assessment consists of 177 pairs of statements that you have to answer in a maximum of 20 seconds each. Hence, you can assess yourself in about 40 minutes.

Personalised strengths reports

For the money, I’ve received four reports with my results. The reports offer a personalized assessment for each talent area. The statements are based on the 177 answers that I’ve shared. The reports are beneficial as they also suggest measures to leverage the full potential of each talent and some hints on blind spots. Additionally, I’ve gotten the StrengthsFinder 2.0 e-book and access to online courses.

Rediscover your strengths: my outcomes

My signature strengths are as follows:

• Learner
• Relator
• Maximizer
• Responsibility
• Arranger
• Intellection
• Positivity
• Connectedness 
• Empathy
• Input

Debriefing leads to new strengths insights

I’m grateful that Silke has offered me a session to debrief the assessment reports. So, I could benefit to a maximum from her experience as a Certified Strength Coach. Silke especially outlined the qualities of the combination of strengths:

Special qualities in the combination of strengths

So, I’m not only a continuous learner and avid collector of ideas, but I can deliver reliably based on my arranger and responsibility talents. Most of my talents are in the field of relationship building. For me, the quality of relationships is essential. As a leader, this helps forge strong team cohesion and build trusted networks. Therefore, arranger, Empathy, Maximizer tend to amplify the Relator talent.

A work environment to play out strengths

Another aspect that she highlighted is essential: finding the right environment to work in is critical. Imagine if everybody would work in a place where they could contribute to the best of their potential. New work put simply: everyone at the right place to build on their strengths. Hence, I must work in an environment that offers free space, autonomy, complexity, and opportunities to connect with inspiring people and coach people.

Rediscover your strengths in all talent domains

Last but not least, Silke observed that my top 10 strengths are from all four domains: relationship building, strategic thinking, executing and influencing. I know how to establish strong relations, distil insights from experiments and complex interactions, form teams that deliver outcomes, and contribute to the personal growth of people I work with.

Precious experience

Thank you, Silke, for inviting me to participate in the CliftonStrengths assessment. This experience has been worth each euro and will serve my continuous development. Please check Silke’s coaching offering in German.

I’ll close this post with a cross-check of the strengths with my core values, and really, the values are the foundations for my strengths:

• Learner #personaldevelopment #openness #creativity
• Relator #contributing #connection #kindness
• Maximizer #clarity #personaldevelopment #contributing
• Responsibility #contributing #clarity #gratitude
• Arranger #contributing #creativity #openness
• Intellection #contributing #clarity #openness
• Positivity #kindness #joy #gratitude
• Connectedness #holism #connection #kindness
• Empathy #kindness #connection #openness
• Input #personaldevelopment #contributing #creativity

Rediscover strengths: how do you go about it?

This blog post has been first published on my previous blog.

Categories: #discovery #fulfillment #career

Tags: #workenvironment #assessment #cliftonstrengths #strengths #synchronicity

The post Rediscover your strengths in 40 minutes first appeared on Flow Discovery.