Grajfoner, Dasha

English

Heriot Watt Pure

The Coaching Psychologist, Vol. 11, No. 1, June 2015 55© The British Psychological Society – ISSN: 1748–1104BY THE TIME The Coaching Psychologist(TCP) lands on your doorstep we willjust about to start our 5th EuropeanCoaching Psychology Conference: ‘BreakingNew Ground’. The conference includes anumber of keynote speakers: ProfessorRoger Steare; Dr Helen Turnbull; Dr TatianaBachkirova; Dr Suzy Green, who is alsorunning a pre-conference workshop on posi-tive psychology coaching; Donna Willis; andmyself. We are also very pleased that thePresident of the British Psychological Society(BPS), Professor Jamie Hacker Hughes, willbe speaking at the conference. The streams,running over both days are: Leadership;executive and business coaching; Positivepsychology coaching; Tools and techniquesin coaching psychology; and last but not leastcoaching psychology research network (withupdates in this issue of TCP). Conferencefeedback from last year has shaped theprogramme and the structure of the confer-ence this year.On a similar note, I would like to expressmy gratitude to all who have responded toour member survey. The exercise has beenvery insightful and has indicated what theareas of improvement are. However, I amvery pleased to say that the survey alsodemonstrated that the strategy of the SGCP,aims of the committee and the views of ourmembers are aligned and, therefore, theSGCP continues to provide and overall goodservice and good value for money to ourmembers. Therefore, in this ‘Letter from the Chair’I would like to focus on the survey and high-light a few issues that have emerged from it.Many comments highlighted the good workof the SGCP, and its importance to developand promote coaching psychology as aprofession within and outside the BPS.Other comments, however, raised additionalissues that we must reflect on, for example,how to improve our activities to meet theemerging needs and expectations of ourmembership and developing profession.The response rate was fairly good andabout 15 per cent (N=333) of our membershave engaged in the survey. To start with, 82per cent of respondents hold full member-ship and over 55 per cent are satisfied or verysatisfied with their membership in thegroup. Additional comments on member satis-faction have surfaced a few interestingtopics. Most respondents are satisfied withour two publications, especially with articlescombining theory with practical implemen-tation. Pro-activity of the group, yearlyevents, networking opportunities, CPD activ-ities and peer practice groups are also highlyappreciated. Given that the SGCP is a verydiverse group, cross divisional collaborationsare acknowledged and celebrated, howeverthey are most desirable and must developedfurther.Suggested areas for improvement arecommunication within the SGCP andgreater sense of direction. Perhaps thecurrent Strategic Plan will address some ofthese issues. A number of respondents high-light the need for more regional events andless London-centric approach. We aim to dothat with our CPD events, peer practicegroups and conferences outside London.The responses also reflect the current needsof the discipline, that is, the need for goodquality evidence, more collaborativeresearch groups and consequently betterquantitative data. Establishing the CoachingPsychology Research Network under thelead of Professor Sarah Corrie is alreadytaking the initiative to address thoseconcerns and to establish internationalresearch connections.Letter from the ChairDasha Grajfoner56 The Coaching Psychologist, Vol. 11, No. 2, December 2015Looking at the future provisions of theSGCP over 80 per cent of respondents wouldlike more peer practice groups, CPD andnetworking events, and workshops designedto enhance coaching psychology practice.Over 50 per cent would also like to see moreevents that include dissemination ofresearch into practice.When asked about the highest priorityareas of the SGCP, building the evidencebase through research, informing standardsfor practice and supervision and providing atraining route are clear stand outs, with over70 per cent and over 50 per cent of respon-dents respectively. Looking ahead, we cannot avoid lookingat the position of the SGCP within the BPS.A survey question asked about the possibilityof developing the SGCP into a Division andover 80 per cent of respondents support thisoption. The main reasons for thier supportare increased recognition and status forcoaching psychology and psychologists, andstrengthening the profession within andoutside the BPS.The survey has provided most valuableviews from you, our members, and has givenus as a group an indication on how andwhere we would like to be in the near future.These are exciting times with plenty of workahead of us. Consequently, I would like totake this opportunity to encourage you tostep forward and to contribute to the work ofthe committee.I would also like to say thank you onbehalf of the SGCP committee to SiobhainO’Riordan, who will be stepping down as theEditor of TCP after this December 2015issue. Siobhain has done a brilliant job as theEditor of TCP and has been a supportivecolleague and a great pleasure to work with.Finally, I wish to conclude this ‘Letterfrom the Chair’ with an invitation to the 5thEuropean Coaching Psychology Conference.The event is taking place on the 10th and11th of December 2015 at the Holiday Inn,Bloomsbury, in London. As always, theconference is an excellent opportunity tomeet, connect, and collaborate withcolleagues from around the world, so pleaseattend and support your Special Group. The SGCP committee, and I, lookforward to meeting you at the conference.Dr Dasha GrajfonerEmail: sgcpchair@bps.org.ukDasha Grajfoner

Letter from the Chair

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Letter from the Chair

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Heriot Watt Pure