How to Coach: Concepts & Implementation
by Julie Lancaster View Bio
- Relationship first
- For people to be open to coaching,
- They must trust you
- They must feel that you believe in the potential of their success
- For people to be open to coaching,
- Coaching is:
- Question focused (allowing them to solve the problem instead of you)
- Not mentorship (advice & expertise-based)
- Not training (skill enhancement)
- Not discipline (performance management and & corrective feedback)
- International Coach Federation definition: Coaching is about “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential”
- Tools for the coaching conversation
- GROW model (Goal, Reality, Options, Will)
- Coaching by Numbers
- Tell me something you are working on. How is it going, 1-10? What would a 10 (not realistic) look like? What would it take to increase by .5? What’s the very next step?
- Powerful questions
- Samples: Why is this goal important to you? If you didn’t change, what would your life look like 5 years from now? What have you tried that works? What gets in the way of success? What will success look like? At end: So now what is your plan moving forward? How can I support you?
- Tips for the coaching conversation
- Schedule coaching sessions (pop-ins typically involve corrective feedback or mentorship)
- Ask them to self-assess first (as this should be about their goals)
- If people seem hesitant or fearful about coaching: ask them to coach you first about one of your goals. Be vulnerable
- If you fear that you won’t “get it right,” let them know this is a new skill for you (if that’s true) & to give you grace and feedback along the way. You are learning
- Talk 50% or less & utilize the communication skills of paraphrasing & validating
- Don’t be afraid to share what you see/notice (provide the mirror), and also shine light on their strengths
- Benefits of a coaching culture
- Self-awareness (of strengths, growth areas, and triggers)
- Goal achievement (setting & reaching)
- Open communication
- Growth (learning, development)
- Accountability (follow-through)
- Suggested resources
- Video, article, reflective worksheet, assessment & book recommendations
- Self-assessment from MindTools & the 6 golden rules for coaching
- Coaching is founded on confidentiality & trust
- Solutions lie within the coachee
- There is no judgement or fixed agenda, but there is an agreed goal.
- Coaching is about the whole person
- The coach and coachee are equal partners
- Coaching looks to the future & next actions
- The Coaching Habit book
- The seven essential coaching questions
- “What’s on your mind?”
- “And what else?”
- “What’s the real challenge here for you?”
- “What do you (really) want (from me)?”
- “How can I help?”
- “If you’re saying yes to this, what are you saying no to?”
- “What was most useful for you?”
- Definitions
Coaching, by The International Coach Federation (ICF)
Coaching is about “partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential.”
Mentorship
Mentorship is when “a more experienced or knowledgeable person guides and nurtures the development of a less experienced person.”
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