Most of us are familiar with the term “coach,” from playing sports with a head coach at the helm or a favorite teacher that influenced and guided us forward. Both examples represent a combination of many types of coaches (leadership, executive, life, personal development, career, wellness, skills, sports, performance, self-esteem, etc.).
People hire coaches to help them get from one point to another point in their life. Usually included in this journey is learning how to manage barriers, develop skills, bolster strengths, see the possibilities, act, and become a better person so they can lead both a successful and happy life. The goal is often to work at a peak performance level and have peace of mind/wellness and healthy relationships. Reaching this level means you have earned the right to influence others.
What are your skills as a coach? We are advocates for coaches, especially since our space is in leadership and mental fitness coaching. When we work with clients, our goal is to focus on you becoming the head coach or favorite teacher in your organization. In the book, The Magic Question, David Cottrell cites these myths about coaching:
- People do not want to be held accountable: This is simply untrue. The team and the organization cannot move forward without accountability.
- Coaching is solely about working with the low performers: Again, this is untrue. The coach is responsible for staying in touch with everyone on the team, especially the best performers, to guide them to the next level of responsibility or promotion.
- Formal performance appraisals every 6 months or annually is sufficient feedback: False. That would be like a head coach coaching the 1st half of a game or a favorite teacher teaching half the book.
Coaching is a two-way process of listening and speaking. A coach is a human first, a person who provides encouragement and stretches an individual. Coaching includes constructive feedback in the moment to create a unique learning opportunity that can be applied immediately. A coach helps people focus on what both matters and is in their control.
Inside your organization are hundreds of opportunities for you to coach people. Want to assess your coaching ability? Get a report of your top 3 areas that are working well and top 3 areas you need to work on to improve your coaching ability. Click on this link to take the 5-minute assessment: https://lnkd.in/gmJgpTfd
After you have assessed your coaching ability, add a couple of improvement actions to your 90-day plan. Be like Warren Buffett, he believes both patience and discipline are what helps him reach his goals. The secret sauce is in steady, small, and consistent day-to-day actions.