The Art of Effective Coaching
Updated: Oct 23, 2019
Soccer. Baseball Rugby. Anything in common? They’re all team sports, right? And what does every team require to lead it to success? Right again. A coach!
If you think about it, successful businesses are a bit like championship sport teams. They have coaches. Not necessarily executives or managers, mind you. I am talking about those experienced employees who take it upon themselves to mentor junior employees.
Sure, they could be managers. They often are. But just as often they’re someone a bit more experienced, who can help others unlock their potential.
What 5 elements compose effective coaching?
When you break it down, there are 5 essential elements to good coaching. That’s it. Just 5!
Ensure your coachee is comfortable with you and with the environment. If they’re uptight, they’ll be closed to your input.
Incorporate your own success stories
Ask coachee for input. Rather than spoon-feeding your coachee, involve them in the problem-solving process. Ask them for their input. Often they already know what’s wrong. That’s a confidence booster. And that’s the whole point of coaching.
Show appreciation. Even a simple gesture such as a warm smile or a genuine thumbsup is enough to demonstrate appreciation to your coachee. And appreciation is an important means of motivating. It reinforces that the coachee’s efforts aren’t going unnoticed, and that encourages them to keep trying.
Ensure you’re giving feedback appropriately. Feedback is your primary tool. You need to use it carefully. For instance, watch how you can implement another element of effective coaching. “What do you think is the problem?” “right!”... Show appreciation for your coachee’s efforts.
To what other guidelines must coaches adhere?
Here are a few more things you should consider as coach.
Base opinions and ideas on observable facts. Be factual in your feedback. Always base your comments on observed behaviors. And never make up data or answers. If you don’t know, say so.
Be discreet. Don’t ever talk about your coachee to others.
And remember to always provide ongoing recognition. People will continue to improve if they hear they’re doing well.
