Glenda's Work Background

Summary:

• Master's Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology - 1985
  
• Project Manager - Computer usability - 1985-2000
  for IBM and other Fortune 500 companies
• Life Coach and Workshop Leader
  - part-time 1992-2000; full-time 2000-present
• CPCC from The Coaches Training Institute, 2001
  (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach)
• Co-Active Space Leadership Program, 2001-2002
  (9-month long program)
• Began Certified NVC Trainer program, 2003
• Certified NVC Trainer by the Center for Nonviolent Communication
  Jan 2006 - present
• Training Director for GovernanceAlive
  sharing an organizational system called sociocracy that the Center for Nonviolent Communication was using
• Communication Coordinator for the Center for Nonviolent Communication
  June 2008-June 2009
• Coordinator of the NVC Global Community Circle for the Center for Nonviolent Communication
  July 2008-Nov 2009
• Here in Toronto and celebrating the opportunity to again work, train and coach people I can be in the same room with after over 3 years of working virtually!

The Journey

I first articulated my life purpose in 1978 as "Supporting people in living happy lives." I chose to begin by focusing on people's work lives, and obtained a Master's Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology.

Project Management

I spent the first 15 years of my career working as a project manager in the computer and computer usability fields. I worked for IBM and other Fortune 500 companies, seeking to design and provide useful, easy to learn and easy to use computer systems. My intention was that the system side of people's work would support them so completely and easily that they would be able to focus their attention on the people side of their work - connecting with their clients and others with whom they worked.

My role as a project manager also gave me the opportunity to support the members of my teams in using their talents and finding joy and satisfaction in their work. And I discovered that, however much or little I was able to adapt the working conditions, it was aspects internal to each person that determined their enjoyment and satisfaction, both with their work and in their personal lives.

Life Coaching

It was at this point that I began to feel a pull to work with individual clients, to support them in creating the internal conditions that would enable them to enjoy all aspects of their lives. Two of the conditions involved were already clear to me:

• Self-care, self-acceptance and self-compassion
• A sense of contribution to the well-being of others.

Most of the people with whom I have had the privilege of working were already aware of the importance of contributing to others. Their big challenge was in caring for and being compassionate toward themselves. Because it was easy for me to see the beauty in them, and to celebrate what their deepest selves were truly wanting, it was natural for me to reflect this back to them - seeking to model acceptance and compassion.

My skills as a coach were dramatically enhanced through the rigorous training provided by The Coaches Training Institute (CTI), as I succeeded in earning my CPCC designation. Through this training I increased my ability to support clients in tapping into their own inner wisdom.

Leadership & the Honesty Question

I was so impressed with the strength and openness of the CTI trainers, all of whom led in pairs, that I knew I wanted to be in community with this exceptional group of people. Thus, in October 2001, I entered the Co-Active Space Leadership Program (the leadership arm of CTI). It was here that the importance of honesty in creating satisfying relationships became clear to me.

It was also here that my confusion about honesty began. Sometimes I saw honesty spoken by myself or others bring great healing and connection to our community. At other times, it resulted in pain and disconnection, in some cases such deep disconnection that it continues to this day.

I graduated from the Leadership program with this key question still unanswered:
What is the difference between honesty that helps and connects
and honesty that hurts and divides us?

So began a 9-month long journey in which I researched every source I could find on the subject of honesty. Then in February 2003, one of my Leadership colleagues recommended Marshall's book to our community. I read it and I knew I had found the answer to my question.

Coaching and Relationships

Meanwhile, my work with my coaching clients had continued. As I mentioned, my inital focus had been on supporting each person in being caring and compassionate toward themselves. I believed that if they did that, that they would automatically bring these qualities into their relationships. But in case after case, this didn't seem to be happening to the extent we had hoped.

But when clients started working with Marshall's book, the first rays of hope began to appear. There were some breakthroughs in long-standing challenges. Clients also found even greater understanding and acceptance for themselves as they began using the process.

And as my ability to live the process has increased, my clients have gotten increased benefit from it. Which inspires me to continue my own journey of learning and growth, with gratitude for the gifts of this process and all of those who have already contributed to my learning. Thank you.

- Glenda

Contact Glenda at connect [at] compassionatehonesty.com


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