Gregory Cowan I am a Life Coach, Urbanist-architect, Educator and Urban Guide. I am interested in Urban Research and Start Up companies, and have been mentoring in UK and Germany for a few years. Gregory, an Australian-born architect turned researcher and entrepreneur; has made London home since 2003. Working on urban experience, street design and place making. As an architect and educator, previously lived in Austria, Germany, Malaysia and Mongolia. Currently lectures and supervises research at the University of Wales Trinity St David, and University of Westminster. Working as an urban tour guide for WithLocals, and as an amateur musician, performing in various bands.. Home since 2014 on the Regent's Canal (and second home since 2020 on various waterways) is the 59 ft Narrowboat “Dolly”. In April 2020, “The Architect’s Mooring” was published, as a chapter in Austria’s Graz Architecture Magazine, GAM16- Un/Common Special Issue. In May 2020 in the global pandemic, Dolly transitioned to continuous cruising on the waterways, and Gregory continues to work (mainly onshore on terra firma) in London and internationally.. Gregory transformed his career in 2020, consolidating experience from architecture, urban design and regeneration, urban tourism, street architecture and nomadology, into serving as a transformational life coach, guiding others in their lives, their careers and their businesses. In the pandemic lockdown, 5 years after completing his PhD "Occupying Streets", Gregory founded the architects coach. Gregory Cowan PhD (Street Des) PGCert (SSSL) M Arch (res) B Arch (hons) RIBA VSO Diploma of Transformational Life Coaching (Animas)
My Mentoring Topics
- 1. Architects and/or Academics,
- 2. Ethnic Minority Migrant Scholars and/or Professionals,
- 3. Life Coaching
- 4. Business Coaching,
- 5. Developmental, Behavioural, and Performance Coaching
- 6. Small business incubation, development and business education
- 7. Urban development and street occupations after the Pandemic.
- 8. Architecture and urbanism education.
- Testimonial: "Thank you so much for your coaching time. Your sessions helped me to really grow in my professional career goals." Sitira Williams
- ORCID: https://orcid.org/0000-0002-0250-4929
K.
17.May 2022It was truly a wonderful session ! He was gracious with his time and offered me some valuable inputs. I am amazed by the experience he has and the value he offers as a mentor. I am profoundly touched by his kind gesture for staying more than an hour and doing brainstorming with me to align with my goal. It is truly an open-minded space which I will cherish. He is a wonderful mentor to work with. As under his guidance, one can learn a lot given the amount of wisdom he accumulated over the years.
S.
6.December 2021The sessions were very valuable to my project management and time management skills, coaching me through how to manage my time, whilst setting realistic goals which can overall impact my organisation skills. I feel like my wellbeing has improved since having these sessions with you. It has been great having someone to challenge me whilst also help me to think about strategies and solutions to those challenges which I experience.
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The Tao of Coaching - Boost Your Effectiveness at Work by Inspiring and Developing Those Around You
Max Landsberg
Key Insights from "The Tao of Coaching" Coaching is not about instructing, but about facilitating personal development and unlocking potential. The GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Wrap-up) model is a key coaching tool. Listening attentively and asking open-ended questions are critical skills for coaches. Effective feedback is crucial for learning and growth. The coach’s role is to help individuals recognize and overcome their own barriers to success. Coaching is a continuous process of learning and development, not a one-off event. Coaching should be tailored to the individual's needs and learning style. Coaching can be applied at all levels of an organization, not just at the top. Building a coaching culture within an organization can lead to enhanced performance. Coaching can be used to improve both technical and soft skills. Analysis and Conclusions Max Landsberg's "The Tao of Coaching" is a profound exploration of the art and science of coaching. It challenges the traditional perception of coaching as a top-down, instructional process. Instead, Landsberg posits that coaching is about facilitating personal development and unlocking potential. This is a transformative insight that reframes the coach’s role from a provider of solutions to a facilitator of discovery. Central to the book's approach is the GROW model, a highly effective coaching tool. GROW is an acronym for Goal, Reality, Options, and Wrap-up. The model guides the coach and coachee through a structured conversation that starts with defining a clear goal, understanding the current reality, exploring various options, and wrapping up with a commitment to specific actions. This model aligns perfectly with the facilitative approach to coaching. Listening attentively and asking open-ended questions are fundamental skills that Landsberg emphasizes. By truly listening, a coach can understand the coachee’s perspective and help them uncover their own solutions. Asking open-ended questions, on the other hand, stimulates critical thinking and encourages self-reflection. Landsberg also underscores the importance of providing effective feedback for learning and growth. Feedback should be constructive, specific, and timely to help the coachee understand their strengths and areas for improvement. The book highlights the coach's role in helping individuals recognize and overcome their own barriers to success. This is a profound insight because it shifts the focus from external challenges to internal obstacles, which are often more difficult to conquer but crucial for personal growth. Landsberg also stresses that coaching is a continuous process of learning and development, not a one-off event. This insight reinforces the key principle of lifelong learning and continuous improvement. Furthermore, the book advocates for tailoring coaching to the individual's needs and learning style. This is a crucial aspect of effective coaching, as it respects and accommodates the diversity of learners. Interestingly, the book also argues that coaching can be applied at all levels of an organization, not just at the top. This democratizes the concept of coaching and stresses its value for everyone, not just the leaders. Building on that, the book proposes the idea of building a coaching culture within an organization to enhance performance. This culture fosters continuous learning, mutual support, and shared responsibility for success. Finally, the book points out that coaching can be used to improve both technical and soft skills. This is an important reminder that coaching is not limited to certain areas of expertise but is a versatile tool for a wide range of skills and competencies. In conclusion, "The Tao of Coaching" is a comprehensive guide to effective coaching. It provides valuable insights and practical tools for anyone interested in personal or professional development. Whether you are a manager, teacher, parent, or coach, this book can help you enhance your coaching skills and inspire those around you.
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A.
20.May 2022I have had a couple sessions with Gregory so far, and I have been nothing but delighted with them. Gregory is communicative, understanding, knowledgeable, and very helpful, and does everything he can to provide relevant advice and helpful connections within his network. My only feedback to Gregory would be continue his work and to continue to inspire new mentees! This has been a wonderful experience for me.