Inaugural Speech by the President of Malaysian Association of Certified Coaches (MACC)

It is an honour and a rare privilege for me to be elected as the first President of MACC. I wish to express my deep appreciation and profound gratitude to all the members for giving me the opportunity to assume that position for which l realize has its encumbrances.

Many Thanks!
l am fortunate to have a highly spirited and committed team to work with. From the Vice-President to the Directors, l dare say, are all certified coaches of exceptional qualities. They were members of the Protem Committee which had overcome the challenging tasks of organizing 7 Roundtables and seeking MACC’s registration. It was, therefore, most appropriate and deserving that they were elected to the Committee.

A Historic Milestone
This day, the 16th of Jan 2010 is undoubtedly a historical event, a dream came true. It marked the official launch of MACC and the holding of its first Annual General Assembly (AGM). The very fact that MACC received its official registration from the Registrar of Societies (ROS) within a short span of 4 months is an achievement by itself, not to mention the national status that accompanied it. I believe that nothing happens by chance. There must be big and great things in store for MACC. What it entails is a burning desire to discover and claim them.

Our Coaching Purpose
To justify its national status, MACC will have to play a pivotal role in spearheading the coaching profession within the country and perhaps beyond. MACC is set to be the benchmark for the coaching industry in Malaysia. It has to strive to become the leading authority and symbol of the coaching discipline, one that is credible and reliable.

Your Continuous Coach Learning Platform
Amongst the various objectives of MACC, one that stands out as the most sublime is its fervent pursuit as a continuous learning platform for its members. Graduates and under-graduates of Corporate Coach Academy (CCA) will certainly find MACC the most appropriate venue to refresh their coaching knowledge and competencies or to hone their coaching skills. This has been proven true from the many Roundtables organized in the past year. Another new feature of equal prominence is the introduction of MACC website: http://www.malaysiancoaches.com/ by February 2010. Quite a substantial investment has been put into it by CCA. To those who are still delaying in joining MACC, you are bound to miss out the golden goose.

1st Value From MACC
If you want to share your thoughts as well as gain visibility for yourself, there’s an immediate opportunity for you now. Send in your articles (not more than 500 words) and programs that you wish to conduct.

2nd Value From MACC
For your further visibility and ‘marketability’, send in your photograph with a short introduction of yourself for posting in the website. The website will help to market you. It is also for referral and networking.

Your Role
MACC, like all other associations or communities, is as good as its members. For it to grow and flourish, very much are dependent on the unity and solidarity, the cooperation and goodwill of you and other members. Whilst it is understandable that members will ask this usual question “what can MACC do for me?” I hope the members will also ask themselves “what can I do for MACC?”

Our vision to build a vibrant coaching community is cast with embolden prints, loud and clear. Make no mistake, we have arrived and only time will tell how far we will prevail and accomplish.

Many things are coming your way. But please be a little patient as we are getting the ‘house in order’ in view of the stage of infancy MACC is in. Soon we will let you know from time to time as events unfold.

Meanwhile, take care, and watch out for more news.

May God bless us all.

Bob Lim Kee Bok

MACC – 4TH ROUND TABLE ON 23 AUGUST 2009

23 August 2009, 3.00 pm was a hot Sunday afternoon. When we could have chosen to laze around, passion for coaching got over 9 of us to gather together at the MACC Office located in Taman Tun Dr Ismail, to share and learn more depth about coaching. This included our master coach, Michael Heah, who was present to provide us with valuable facilitation and feedback. Chairing the meeting was Bob Lim, President of the Protem Committee.

The focus of the day was “POWERFUL QUESTIONING”.

So, what exactly do we mean by Powerful Questioning? Asking questions – sounds easy?

Wait! Let’s get more clarity here - Powerful questioning in accordance to ICF’s (International Coaching Federation) description means, “Ability to ask questions that reveal the information needed for maximum benefit to the coaching relationship and the client” i.e.

• Asks questions that reflect active listening and an understanding of the client's perspective,
• Asks questions that evoke discovery, insight, commitment or action (e.g., those that challenge the client's assumptions),
• Asks open-ended questions that create greater clarity, possibility or new learning
• Asks questions that move the client towards what they desire, not questions that ask for the client to justify or look backwards.

The session kicked off with members defining in their own words their understanding of the above clauses. Some seeking the understanding of what it really means while some challenge the description for clarity. One of the key discussions was on the type of questions, in particular, on the usage of “leading questions”. Do we use leading questions in our coaching sessions? If yes, under what circumstances?

A case study was also tabled for discussion. In line with the focus of the day on Powerful Questioning, each member present took turn to practise powerful questions to help the “coachee” get clarity of the issue. The focus of the questions was to move the “coachee” forward in the various key stages of the coaching protocols.

Interested to learn more about coaching?

MACC – 5TH ROUND TABLE ON 19TH SEP 2009

Join us for the next MACC for 2 hours of sharing and learning on “POWERFUL LISTENING’. It will be a time well-spent and we certainly look forward to have you join us.


Compiled by : Helen Teh

Reflection on Self-Awareness & Self-Consciousness

MACC Roundtable Topic on 21st June 09 : Is Self-Awareness=Self-Consciousness?

Self-Consciousness is a state of being totally involved in one’s thoughts and feelings which are self contained within oneself.

Spiritually, it is a desirable milestone in seeking the sublime state of Holiness and Peace. Exponents of Yoga, Meditation and others, strive towards this state of being to seek inner richness.

However, in another context, Self-Consciousness has a different connotation ie it is a negative reflection of oneself, such as, being overly concerned of how others look at him so much so, he recoils into a disempowering frame or reacts superficially.

Narcissism (too much self-love) is a derivative of Self-Consciousness.

Self-Awareness is an extension of Self-Consciousness in that the person, having in control of his thoughts and feelings, now expresses them through his behaviours. Here, he has moved outside of himself; a manifestation of himself. He then initiates measures to develop himself holistically, embarking on the journey of transformation.

In a coaching context, Self-Awareness is the quintessential outcome for it then empowers the coachee:
a) to constantly touch base with his inner self,
b) to be fully sensitive to the impact of his actions upon himself and others and taking responsibility for it, and
c) to initiate corrective measures for positive improvement.

What is the Learning Lesson?

Self-Awareness and Self-Consciousness are, therefore, intertwined complementing each other, like inseparable twins. It is the utmost desirable state of anyone who seeks wholesome personal development, without which, he is a failed man.

Coaching, therefore, holds the key to empowering Self-Awareness-cum-Self- Consciousness.

What do you think? We invite your comments and thoughts.

Malaysian Association of Certified Coaches Blog

My fellow Coaches and Coaches-to-be.

It is indeed an honour and privilege for me to pen a few words in this inaugural address.

As you know, MACC stands for Malaysian Association of Certified Coaches, whose vision is to be the national standard bearer of quality coaching in Malaysia. It is also the Alumni of Corporate Coach Academy (CCA), from whom most of you would have either gone through or undergoing the Certified Professional Coach (CPC) program or at least one module.

l am truly grateful that our dream of having our own Association is being realized. MACC is the answer to meet and overcome many of our challenges after our graduation, even so as under-graduates.

Having witnessed the superfluous flow of energy that reverberated throughout MACC Round Table on 16 May 09 morning, l am convinced that MACC has found the reason for its existence. Undoubtedly, there was deep hunger for higher knowledge and intrinsic skills by all the participants. As the Facilitator, l was overwhelmed and had to concede some overtime on the sharing of thoughts and experiences during the Feedback session. I felt it was unjustifiable to stick rigidly to the planned schedule at that moment. It must have been the right decision as all were in high spirit at the end of it.

It is, therefore, mandatory for MACC to exalt the need for the “Sustenance of Learning” in all strategic areas of coaching. We have the necessary resources to make it possible. Coupled with the personal assurance and unflinching support of our Master Coach Dr Michael Heah, MACC will be a win-win for all its members and even guests.

What is the first thing that l ask from all of you, coaches and coaches to be? Please lend your support by signing up as members as soon as possible. What is in it for you? The answer is already provided above, not to mention the networking and other social activities that will be organized by the Protem Committee. I can see on the horizon the realization of MACC’s vision if all of us were to lend our help and support in MACC in any way we can.

With this, I now officially launch MACC’s blog at http://www.maccoaches.blogspot.com or http://maccoaches.blogspot.com

[If you have problems with the link, please copy and paste either one of them into your computer’s web browser.]

Share with us your thoughts under "Comments".

Sincerely,
Bob Lim,
President, Protem Committee