Comments on: CoachReporter Interview with Jayson Blair, Disgraced Journalist Turned Life Coach–Listen to the Podcast

By: Billy C H Teoh

Billy C H Teoh — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 23:00:28 +0000

Perhaps Blair’s case, could be a ‘test case’(for the firm that took Blair on making sure that he is trained, supported and tested) to the power of coaching, where Blair who had a ‘mental illness’ or ‘integrity issue’ who could become ‘coachable’ to become useful again to the Community & Society?

I look forward and wish Blair to becoming a ‘successful model’; and am sure we can learn more about ‘integrity’ coaching (if integrity is the legitimate issue in question and not the mental illness). Wouldn’t that be great – ‘integrity coaching’ in action?

Billy C H Teoh
Malaysia.

By: Mark Joyella

Mark Joyella — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 19:44:28 +0000

Angela,

The sense I got from talking to the doctor who hired Blair was that he and the others in his practice were very wary of bringing Blair in under their roof, and made sure he was trained and supported and tested. Is it enough to win him respect from most coaches?

Curious to see how reaction settles on his new line of work.

Mark

By: Angela Spaxman

Angela Spaxman — Wed, 26 Aug 2009 10:14:45 +0000

As coaches our job is to believe in people: that they can change, they can follow their integrity and reach towards their potential. So I say, Go Jayson! Sounds like he has found great support, made some smart decisions and is now truly helping people.

On branding coaching, I think we have to accept that coaching is a broad field helping all kinds of people, from people recovering from mental illness, to world leaders. The best credentials for coaches in different fields will vary greatly around a core set of abilities, and the actual competence of coaches will also vary. So how do we brand? We can start by knowing the truth — that coaching is a noble, life enhancement/enrichment profession, and acting from that point.

Great interview, Mark!

By: Billy C H Teoh

Billy C H Teoh — Tue, 25 Aug 2009 04:05:00 +0000

Interesting dialogue. I am not familiar with Jayson’s past history; though I would like to know if someone similar to Jayson’s case is due more to his/her diagnosed ‘mental illness’ that affected his/her ‘integrity’ that led to his/her ‘disgrace’?

If someone similar to Jayson’s case, requires to be still on medication or is it possible that, that someone can fully recovered (most of the cases I know of with people with bipolar or similar mental illness conditions require life-time medication)?

What are the assurances that someone similar with Jayson’s condition experiencing a relapse, hence, affecting his/her profession or coaching practice? If someone similar to Jayson’s condition is fully recovered or controllable/manageable so that it will not affect his/her integrity in his/her profession of coaching practice, could we provide that person a second chance?

If integrity is the main issue here, does the ‘Model Standard Professional Code of Ethics’ agreed upon by ICF, IAC & EMCC sufficiently covers the integrity issues for coaches? Interesting this leads to another question that I wish there are cementing answers to it: “How do we position & brand coaching, so that, it is truly considered/perceived as a ‘noble’ & ‘life enhancement/enrichment’ profession?

Billy C H Teoh
Malsysia.