Many of us would say that our best coach both encouraged and challenged us. And certainly, these are among the most basic of coaching skills and a great place to start. We think, when you take a closer look, there are seven key skills you have to master to be an effective coach at work and in life. These are:
Our best coaches certainly challenged us, but they also confronted us. They had a way of giving us feedback that made us better, because it was focused on how to improve, not how to fail. They guided us to learn to solve our own problems; to identify issues with our jump shot or our swing, and to self-correct. They guided us, not directed us, and they empowered us to take what we had learned and go out to play the game.
It's not so very different in a work setting. Good coaching is helping someone develop themself. It is giving them constructive feedback, problem-solving techniques, an empathetic ear, and the power to succeed or fail on their own. After all, we learn as much from failure as we do success; maybe more.
Those who aspire to be great leaders and managers must learn the art of coaching. There are great resources out there to help you on your journey. We think a great place to start is with our Coaching Effectiveness Profile. It measures the seven coaching skills we identified above, and provides you with feedback on how you measure on them. It can be a great way to identify target areas for more reading, exploration, and skill development. To explore more Coaching Resources, you can also check out our Coaching and Mentoring Forum.
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