The Distillery was engaged by Auckland Libraries to train senior managers in coaching, specifically how to help them understand how and when to use coaching conversations to help drive innovation across the library network, as well as lead and develop the staff in their care.

The key with these sessions was to help staff understand how and when to use coaching as a tool, and familiarise them with a number of different frameworks to help guide their thinking and subsequent application.

We drew on a few key tools and frameworks:

• NLP (Neuro Linguistic Programming);
• David Rock's SCARF and AGES models, and the wonderfully named Dance of Insight used in Coaching for Results and Brain Based Conversations;
• The GROW and CREATE models as basic guides for process;
• Quiet Leadership by David Rock, Mindset by Carol Dweck, and Ten Faces of Innovation by Tom Kelly, and Switch by Chip and Dan Heath.

These sessions were well received. We ran two sessions and thereafter set up learning syndicates to help the senior managers engage with and help train others across the library network.