Susan Austin speaks about Thomas Leonard

Thank you to the ICF-Region 2 Virtual Community for their recent call with guest Susan Austin on the topic of ‘What it was like to work with Thomas Leonard.’

There is no recording, but the call notes are a unique insight into the topic, as well as exposure to Susan’s inimitable style and frankness which I hope we’ll continue to see more of.

If you’d like to become part of this Virtual Community with its attendant benefits, visit the ICF Virtual Community Chapter here or the Yahoo! group site for this group can be found by clicking here.

Now here are the notes:

How did you and Thomas meet?

Susan: I was a jaded coach when I met him. I was a young new
coach upset with the industry. That was the energy I had at the time. I
thought he was the worst of them. Came in skeptical to find the truth about
coaching. But I knew that Thomas said what no one else would say. He lived
20 minutes from me. I picked up the phone and said how can I help? We just
clicked. Then worked side by side from that day forward. I was intrigued
enough to stick it out with him.

Thomas looked at coaching with different set of glasses. He felt we were
only 4% along the path of where coaching will be in 20 – 30 years. He saw
the gap where coaching is and where he wanted it to go in the next 20 years.
I felt the gap too.

What was it like working with Thomas?

Susan: Always interesting. He was prolific in what he could
produce. He brought out the best in me rather than the overwhelm. He did
frustrate me. He would be half way through something then stop and go to
something else. I finally gave up the need to help Thomas do anything. He
was going to be who he was. Even if he made a mess of everything. I enjoyed
him so much that it made the stress work. Time was magical but there were
tears and anger.

Thomas burned a lot of bridges in his life. I felt a shelf life in our
experience. I realized "I can’t worry about when the
relationship will end." I could feel pain coming from him. I made an active
decision I was going to love him unconditionally if
nothing else. I couldn’t see anyone else in his life doing that for him. But
he created that. It took 6 months before he could
trust that I was going to love him. Thomas’ life was a model for what
coaching is. Clients have a million excuses for not doing something. Thomas
did his stuff despite those feelings.

What surprised you most about Thomas?

Susan: I was surprised at how funny Thomas was. I felt
heaviness for what he did but the man surprised me with his humor. I tried
to catch him in being a bad guy in the coaching world and never could. I
didn’t trust him and felt he had alternative motives for what he did. I
wanted to expose Thomas but I found a man of compassion for the industry
even if that meant shaking it up I got to believe he was who he was.. there
was no understory. He said in 40 some off years of working in the field he
had lived and seen more than 99% of the world. He was not afraid of death
but he was afraid of dying.

How has his passing affected you?

Susan: Thomas gave me so many gifts. This man changed
everything about who I am without changing anything about who I am. He saw
true greatness in me. That changed how I view the world. . and that has
changed everything. The core of me will always stay intact. His
legacy….Not sure what it will be for the industry because he made such an
impact yet. I feel like his name has been swept under the rug. I feel it
should be more recognized – but I am biased. And I know I will always
question things.

What’s next for Thomas?

Susan: We went camping at the Grand Canyon 3 months before he
passed away. No paper or computer with him. Human to human, heartfelt talk.
He talked; I soaked it up under the stars. He shared he was being called to
something greater. He was adamant. All his struggles were preparing him for
something that was coming next. He could feel it. I thought a book tour,
rather than the "next great escape."

And, what about you?

Susan: What do you know for sure? I drive Thomas’ purple
convertible. Ten months a year I am with sun, blue skies, wind in my
hair….I’ve started Coaching Innovation to further the coaching profession.
Thomas wanted to get to the point of being able to change a person’s life
profoundly in 15 minutes. Awareness or technology was out there to do this.
I am interested in furthering that conversation. Evolve what coaching
is….new models. Thomas said there is a coach in everyone…tap into a higher
self and communicating with others….

Thomas wanted the ICF to be a global portal for coaching – not regulations.
He wanted it to be a place for coaches to come together and grow the
industry. He did not want to clamp down and say" this is what a qualified
coach looks like" It put coaches in a box too soon. I would like to see ICF
listen to its members more. I feel like they have taken on a huge
undertaking but I would like them to let it go. Thomas had constant input
from coaches and perhaps ICF should consider doing that. They are doing work
that no one is doing and that is good. I appreciate the ICF I just want
better from them.

Qualities of Thomas to embody?

Susan: Thomas could scan way down the
road. He wanted employees of Wal-Mart to be able to afford coaching. Looking
forward pulled him forward. Never bogged down in his ‘To Do’ List. He had
4000 e-mails in his In Box when he passed away.

I have no need to perform. I have given up all need for that. I want to help
make clients ok with wherever they are in their life. Never once did I feel
coached by Thomas. Continuing to talk about this man is cathartic. I loved
him with every fiber of my being.