It takes a new mind to work effectively today

I'm writing this from the annual conference of the International Coach Federation (www.coachfederation.org) in St. Louis, where I and many of the students of Career Coach Institute are attending to learn from and share with our fellow coaches. Over 1300 people are here, it's a record gathering! And already the energy is high (it's only the first day!).

Tomorrow's keynote speaker is a fellow author, Dan Pink, speaking about "A Whole New Mind" (his latest book). Having read his book and heard him speak previously, I have to enthusiastically recommend it as containing valuable insights about what's changing about work today. Say goodbye to the "knowledge worker," say hello to "a whole new mind" - which requires the use of BOTH left and right brain, along with six key "senses" that are absolutely critical to success in work today and tomorrow.

Skills that we have in the past thought were frivolous (play, imagination, meaning, etc.) are now becoming more highly valued, and the linear skills of organizing, analyzing, and evaluating are giving way to them. For more about the book, see excerpt here: http://www.danpink.com/excerptwnm.php

What I find most compelling about Dan Pink's latest work is that it moves us as workers to become more wholistic, more complete, more integrated as we approach our work - regardless of what kind of work we do. Authentic Vocation (the model of career design we teach at Career Coach Institute) indeed does this too: it inquires into life purpose as well as skills, desired work environment as well as motivators. And it asks the worker-in-transition to tell stories about times they felt highly motivated, as well as complete checklists about key values. Integration and wholism is truly the key to successful career design as well as work in the future!

Marcia Bench, CCI Founder/Director

Visit Career Coach Institute