Presented by:
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
Objectives:
 #1-Participants will be introduced to words & actions
associated with a Beginner’s Mind approach
 #2- Participants will share examples of words typically
heard when a team is using a Beginner’s Mind
approach
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
Beginner’s Mind is about an approach to overcome
barriers associated with our historical approach of
focusing on deficits, weakness and problems. Our
traditional approach has been to see problems as
target behaviors that need fixed or eliminated. Sadly,
the traditional approach is to use punishment,
coercion and even pain to achieve the target behaviors.
This approach shuts down & eliminates the skills,
insights and creativity of the many good people in the
DD profession
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
 The beginner's mind is the mind of compassion.
When our mind is compassionate, we focus on the
helping the people we serve to have a better life.
 It is not possible to help people we serve to have a
better life, when we focus on problems, deficits &
target behaviors. We only hear and see the negative,
this prevents exploring solutions, possibilities &
success
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
 It is not possible to help people we serve to have a
better life, when we focus on problems, deficits &
target behaviors. We only hear and see the negative,
this prevents exploring solutions, possibilities &
success
 The beginner's mind is the mind of compassion.
When our mind is compassionate, we focus on the
helping the people we serve to have a better life.
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The Beginner’s Mind approach is an intentional thought
process to engage professionals at all levels to open up
their thinking and vision to explore possibilities &
solutions to help people we serve to have a Good Life.
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
 When using the “Beginners Mind” concept everything
is possible
 A small child learning to walk is a great example of a
“Beginners Mind”, falling down is not failure it is the
beginning of possibility and success
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
 When using the “Beginners Mind” there are many
possibilities
 Everything is possible and achievable
 Success & failure still result in learning
 A mistake is a learning opportunity
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
 Please share some examples of when you have
personally experienced used a Beginner’s Mind
approach
 Think of some examples of when you have seen a
Beginner’s Mind approach used in the DD profession.
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
The “Beginners Mind” approach will look & sound like
 Lets try it out
 That sounds possible
 What do you think
 What can we learn from this situation
 Small but good progress
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COACH LEARNING EXPERIENCE # 5
Beginner’s Mind
The “Beginners Mind” approach will align with Pink Bat
 Creativity is one of the most powerful forces in the
world
 Creativity can change reality
 The reality that OACB Quality of Ally/Coach training
wants to achieve is that good caring people work
together to promote & deliver a opportunities for
people with intellectual & developmental disabilities
to have a Good Life.
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Beginner’s Mind
 Accept what is happening but keep focused on
possibility
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Coach Learning Experience # 5
Beginner’s Mind
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