My Philosophy

My philosophy around helping individuals, teams, groups, organizations and businesses perform optimally is best explained by going through my credentials and experience. Each one represents something that is important to me.

Co-Active Professional Certified Coach (CPCC) Coaches Training Institute (CTI).

This credential is my initial life coach training. At CTI, one of the foundational beliefs is that our clients are “naturally creative, resourceful and whole.” I believe that – no person or organization is broken. There is nothing to “fix.” As long as there is a drive to improve, there is always a way, and I am trained to find it.

Associate Certified Coach (ACC), International Coach Federation (ICF).

Many people call themselves life coaches and haven’t had any real training for it. I regard learning, expertise, and accreditation highly. It took me almost a year to complete my training and certification. The ICF credential is a signal that I take my profession seriously and maintain a high standard.

Organization and Relationship System Certified Coach, Center for Right Relationship (CRR).

I have worked with people at a pork processing plant, software development companies, large and small manufacturing plants, medical product plants, nonprofits, and automotive parts production facilities. They are all very different, but with the same basic challenge – getting differences of opinion out on the table and discussing them in a way that builds relationships and uses the good of the organization as a guide for decision making. I never saw that happen! People’s inability to communicate in a positive way for the good of the organization can really slow things down, no matter how good an organization’s processes and procedures are.

The Program Includes:

• Tools specifically designed to share different perspectives in nonthreatening ways.
• Exercises to ensure all voices in a system are heard.
• Processes to increase positivity which has documented effects on the bottom line
  of an organization.

I knew at once that I wanted all of those tools in my tool box and that I wanted to master
them fully.

Master’s in Business Administration, University of
Texas at Austin.

I went back to get my MBA when I was 27 and married. I took my last class almost five years later during a summer session with my Mom and two small children in tow. My husband flew down from Virginia at the end to help. My MBA was a family achievement.

I loved the MBA classes! They all made perfect sense to me (except accounting). I enjoy analyzing the forces that affect the bottom line of an organization. The information covered in an MBA program is also useful in everyday life – mortgages, credit, budgeting.

Bachelor of Journalism, University of Texas at Austin.

My major was Public Relations, but it was a new field back then and put under the Journalism Department. It turned out to be a good thing for me. Writing has been a mainstay throughout my life, and I also view the world from a PR perspective which is useful in business coaching.

Leadership.

My mother used to say that I was a born leader. Actually, she said that I’ve always been bossy. She was right, but over the years I have learned that bossiness isn’t the most effective way to get people to do what you want them to do. I had more than 20 years to hone my leadership skills with Army volunteers. When leading volunteers, you rely only on personal influence because you have no positional power. I learned the importance of connecting with people in a way that touches their hearts and minds. Logic alone is a poor motivator. I also learned the importance of clear communication and how easily we mess that up. Creating the impact that we want isn’t as easy as it sounds. Great leaders can create a desire in people to move together toward a common goal. Harder still, great leaders must be people of integrity who are consistently reliable and trustworthy.

Mom.

My Mother had the strongest sense of right and wrong. From her, I learned the importance of honesty, integrity, and doing the right thing just because it is the right thing.

Tapfer.

People often ask me why I named my business Tapfer Consulting. My first child, Nathaniel, was born in a German hospital in June 1988, and the hospital was full of women having babies. While I was in labor, they wheeled me into one of the rooms where moms who had already had their babies were taking visitors. It was a grueling day and I finally had Nathaniel around 10 PM.

A few weeks later, we were pushing Nathaniel around the square of the small German village where we lived. One of the women from the hospital room recognized us and stopped to coo over Nathaniel. She spoke only German. She kept patting my arm and saying, “Tapfer, tapfer.” At the time we didn’t know what it meant. My bet was, “Grumpy woman who yells.” We looked it up when we got home. “Tapfer” means “brave, bold, valiant.”

When I first started creating a business, I was searching for a name. My husband said, “Why not call it Tapfer?” What a brilliant idea! I was taking a brave step to a new career. It’s hard not to be bold when Tapfer is on your business card.

Bio.

I am the 52-year-old mother of two outstanding young men. I was an active duty Army spouse for 29 years. My husband, Sam, and I have been married for 30 years. Walking, reading, traveling, and gardening are enjoyable pastimes for me, but not passions. I enjoy good food and good conversations. I try to do good works that create positivity in the world and reflect well on me, my family, and my God.