There are times when you need to take time for yourself. For take note of what we have been through, take a step back and this give perspective. This was my case a few months ago, in June 2021.
In fact, like many people, the confinement was trying, both from a personal and professional point of view. This has moreover challenged many bases on which I had relied.
We can add to this ma mission output that generated in me a batch of questions about my future:
Do I still want to do what I do?
Am I still aligned with my profession?
What kind of companion do I want to be?
That's when Christophe Keromen invite me to participate in Thalass'Agile, a seminar that he organizes at home, in La Trinité-sur-mer, to take a step back on his identity of “Agile coach”.
Indeed, the questions I mention belong to sector 3 of Martine Volle's compass mapping the topics covered in supervision:
Christophe noticed that he only addressed these questions too little in the context of his individual or collective supervision. This is what led him to propose this seminar dedicated to sector 3.
THE timing was good, the period auspicious and change of scenery could only do me good! 🙂
In this article, I offer you an overview of this extraordinary reflective experience!
Have a supervisory experience
Christophe describes his seminar as “supervising and iodized”. Despite all the interest I may have for salt, it is the supervision dimension which particularly interested me. Already because he talks about it all the time at the moment, but also because it's something that always remained a bit abstract for me.
Definitions he borrows to describe supervision:
Supervision is thespace in which the actor takes as the object of his work the way he decides the meaning of his environment and how he decides his action.
– Denis Bismuth
My understanding is that the supervisee observes himself both in making decisions (meaning) and implement its actions (gesture). He wonders about the Why of this decision (unconscious, influence of experience and therefore limitation of automatisms) and the other options which would have been possible.
Supervision is therefore a framework, a space created by the supervisor, which makes it possible to take this step back that it is not always possible to have by oneself.
Supervision allows the professional of a trade, member of a group, to get out of the solitary exercise of his profession, to create a bond with his colleagues by relying on the common values of his profession while ensuring a better posture ethical.
It also helps develop the quality of practice professionalism and to respond more efficiently to requests related to his profession.
– Emilie Devienne
Supervision can be individual but also collective. This seminar will be an opportunity to experiment a little with both, even if the workshops will tend to be conducted collectively.
A reflective seminar
When I asked the question of seminar content to Christophe, he told me that he had planned reflective workshops, which was a bit vague for me.
I understood the notion of reflection well – that was partly why I came – but I had not yet taken part in workshops where the reflection was the intention and not the way to achieve something else.
We are then typically in a manifestation of the adage:
The important thing is not the destination, it's the journey.
I was curious to see what it would look like.
Day 1: Coach, who are you?
We start the day with the arrival of all the participants. It turns out that we already know each other and it is with a certain pleasure that we find ourselves in a different setting from agile conferences or other professional events.
As soon as we arrive, we are already talking about breaks: the agilists are there! 😛
We then gather in front of the Agenda poster at the entrance to get a taste of what awaits us.
For non-Bretons, here is the translation of the proverb written in red:
Feed your body well, your soul will stay there longer.
Opening
After the excitement of the reunion we start with a hypnosis session led by Frederique Toutain. This puts us in a good position to understand what happens next. It is a ritual that we will reproduce each beginning of the day.
We are then asked what is important to us and what makes us here. Everyone takes turns sharing very touching stories and very personal. We talk about the necklace, timing, seeing and believing, good excuses, gifts, experience...
This expression of vulnerability made me say that we had much to do at real people and not masks. It was a bit like we were out of time, in a bubble of self-love and respect for others. And that was only the beginning !
All the same, I was very surprised at the level of psychological security that had set in. I felt confident myself to open up to the group without any particular apprehension.
Workshop: Introspection
Our inclusion completed, Christophe recalls the general framework of the seminar, some operating rules and presents our first activity.
At first, he gives us a document on which quotes coexist and a certain number of questions. This will be our basis for individual reflection for the next thirty minutes to begin our introspection. He shares with us that the objective is toquestion our convictions!
When I first read the questions, I thought it was going to be quick because I felt like I already had the answers. And yet, when I really immersed myself in it, I found myself responding in a finer, more in-depth way, even re-questioning some of my certainties. It may be the effect ofhand write which pushed me to clarify my ideas.
This phase brought me back into my bubble where I was able to focus on myself, in safety. Afterwards, I think I felt this flow feeling, this feeling of being out of time. Reflecting on oneself is finally pleasant when one lends oneself to the exercise.
The time went by so quickly that I couldn't even go through with the questions! 🙂
By the way, speaking of questions, here is an excerpt so that you can get an idea:
What are the motivations for being an “agile coach”?
How is this profession a quest for me?
Accompanying the other is for me an answer to what?
Where am I in the evolution “what do I want for myself” to “what do I want for the other? »
What type of companion do you want to be?
…
You can find some of these reflexive questions and others in the eBook “Agile coach, who are you? » on the “shares” page of Christopher's website.
Workshop: Life story
Back in the group, we move on to work around our life story.
Christophe presents this concept inspired by narrative practices where we will have to materialize on a poster different elements:
- A path chronologically representing the significant events of our professional career. We also reflect on the skills we have developed, on the values we have expressed...
- Of the rocks, rivers or mountains symbolizing the obstacles that have been overcome. We reflect on how we managed to overcome or circumvent these obstacles, who could help us…
- A compass around which we will inscribe our key values, our strong beliefs and the main principles that have guided our professional life.
- A survival kit containing everything that allowed us to get here and what we can count on for the future. It's a bit like a compendium of our strengths on a slightly larger segment.
- A circle of support in which we will write the names of the people who have allowed us to get here.
Each person then sets about constructing this summary of a life in one image. It's like an invitation to an inner journey allowing us to take stock and express our gratitude to the important people in our lives.
I had the opportunity to do this in This article almost 5 years ago without naming them but it made me want to pay homage to them again, this time without detour.
So, a big thank-you To Florent Lothon, Fabien Maury, Gonzague Guespereau, Vincent Willow, Laurent Morrisseau, Celine Stauder and Christophe Keromen for your generosity towards me and for having been able, in your own way, to contribute to allowing me to be who I am today.
We let's share then to the rest of the group our works, in limited time, for allow everyone to express themselves.
It's a opportunity for the person presenting to say things out loud and thus anchor them even more in their consciousness. For others, it is the possibility of discover life paths rich and varied with which they can enter in resonance.
Stroll by the sea
We continue with a collective march by the sea. This is an opportunity to be able to open the field of discussions following these first, very rich introspection workshops.
It feels good to get some fresh air, to enjoy the landscape while continuing to travel a little bit internally, with thoughts that infuse quietly 🙂
We then end this first day of the seminar with a convivial shared meal prepared by our hosts with Malo as chef!
Day 2: Coach, gray areas
This 2nd day begins with a morning walk for the bravest to discover the birds of the nearby reserve. Back, we share a breakfast together where many topics of discussion begin to emerge.
These are also these informal moments that have value because that's where we share what is important to us. We open up to others while enriching each other from different points of view.
Christophe presents the framework of this second day:
Today's reflective workshop will revolve around our shadow areas. Besides, when I woke up that morning, I don't know why a sentence went through my head:
It is when what is important to us becomes too important that we express our shadow side.
– Olivier My, in a morning reflexive momentum 😛
Workshop: Shadow and Light
In this workshop, like the day before, Christophe invites us to study a collection of writings that he has pre-selected. The idea is to immerse yourself in it to see what will resonate.
Some sentences particularly stood out to me, such as:
Knowing your shadow is essential in the accompaniment professions because just as much as too much light, the shadow is blind.
– Florence Lamy & Michel Moral, “Supervision tools. »
A few examples of shadows that I thought were important to keep in mind:
- inflict good
- be a savior
- Placing your own beliefs on others
- desire for omnipotence
- Need for power and control
- …
There is a crack in everything. This is where light can penetrate.
–Leonard Cohen
This sentence particularly struck me. Indeed, it led me to think as a corollary that light can only appear if a crack allows it.
So there couldn't be light without there being a crack? This idea particularly touched me and led me to explore my past again to discover other aspects.
Afterwards, we get together in small groups to discuss what these elements have evoked for us. The exchanges are rich and colored by experience of each, which further opens the way to a deeper inner reflection. En any case, that's what happened on my side.
We are then freed to enjoy the afternoon which luckily turns out to be sunny. 🙂
Regulatory process
As in any adventure, there are unforeseen events. And there was a big one. Indeed, we were supposed to return at 6:30 p.m. to experience the GAR (Reflective Analysis Group), a process of collective supervision. But at 7 p.m., part of the group had still not returned.
When the group finally got together around 7:30 p.m., Christophe offered to carry out a process of regulation. It is a practice ofgroup support (eg management), coaching (including sports) and supervision. Its purpose is to work on the quality of the link in the group and a way to be able to express his feelings.
This was a particularly strong moment for me for several reasons:
- I was impressed by Christophe's ability to adapt content of the seminary so that he remains learning for the participants Nevertheless.
- In addition, being particularly impacted by this delay in relation to the planned agenda, the supervising team (Christophe, Frédérique and Malo) took part in an exercise that was far from obvious. I'expression of their feelings and their feelings about this event, without trial or accusation is proof of a strong commitment on their part, in security framework enough to express themselves freely.
- Not having been with the late group of participants, I found myself in the position of Marginal Secant. I oscillated between my position in the group and out of the group without managing to find a balance. Christophe had told us about it a few hours earlier and I was able to experience it in spite of myself in real conditions!
Day 3: Progress and Perspectives
This last day begins with a morning stroll, this time to discover the menhirs specific to the region. Back for breakfast, we discuss the program of this last sequence, strongly impacted the day before.
Experience the GAR
We collectively decide to experiment with the GAR that we did not see the day before and I volunteer for the role of exhibitor.
One might think looking at the GAR process that it looks a lot like the Co-Development process. There are indeed similarities. The big difference I could see there is that theintention of the GAR is not to find an action plan for the client but to work on the group resonance to the story told by the exhibitor.
Anyway, that's what I experienced.
- Following theexhibition of my story, THE sharing feelings of my peers allowed me to see my remarks from another angle.
- It made me want tobring some supplements and feelings to enhance my story.
- THE hypotheses and alternatives offered by the group made me take a step back to widen my perspectives again.
- There formulation of my learning allowed me to continue my journey and refine what I considered to be a path to follow.
The role of the supervisor is key to structure the conversation and guarantee the safety environment for free and open exchanges. A particularly strong experience on my side which allowed me to better understand the process of collective supervision.
I learned a lot by being in the role of the exhibitor but I am convinced that we learn just as much in the role of peers! 🙂
Workshop: Moving forward
Finally, Christophe proposes to resume our life experience poster on which we had voluntarily left some space.
It invites us to review all of our reflections and materialize their conclusions. A way of glimpsing the follow-up we want to give to our journey. We thus leave in our exploratory and creative quest before coming back together and sharing our perspectives.
An eil amzer a vev an all.
The second period feeds the other (at the end of one period comes a different one)
– Breton proverb
Conclusion
To conclude, I would say that this seminar was rich in emotions, particularly learner and rewarding. That both by the participants and by the management team who knew how to take care of us as their guests.
I arrived having lost my star and I leave with the more confident look on my next steps. In fact, II was able to ask my important questions and find paths through the resonances of individual works with the collective moments.
There value what I see for an agile coach is multiple:
- give yourself a breathing space For take care of him,
- refine his own style while remaining aligned with his person, his values and his desires,
- share learning conversations with industry professionals,
- live a supervisory experience in a secure environment.
Indeed, Christophe gives us the benefit of his experience and his ability to gather references to help us take a step back and question ourselves. All at home, making the adventure more intimate, more personal and more human !
Thanks also to Frédérique for her contributions and to Malo for his shadow work !
What is written in this article is the fruit of my experience and does not correspond to the entirety of the experience. In fact, some things deserve to stay where they took place.
If you are looking for a extraordinary experience in a pleasant setting and with of the hosts with small onions, Thalass'Agile is made for you ! 😉
4 Responses
Thank you very much Olivier for this personal, sincere and enlightening testimony on the trip offered during these 3 days of seminar…
I hope it will arouse desires that will allow others to experience these moments of exploration.
I would also be delighted if this shared moment contributed to a better understanding of yourself in order to build a future that suits you 😉
Very touching this article 🙂
And it inspires!
THANKS
Thanks for sharing, very interesting!
Thank you Olivier for this always very generous sharing in details and images. The approach is very appealing in the form of a short, immersive seminar and the period is indeed favorable for agile coaches 🙂 I hope that the summer will have extended the reflections to move towards what you really want.