1 Focus on the person being coached
The role of a coach is to enable someone else to identify and achieve their objectives, and to do so through self belief, whilst maintaining responsibility for their actions and results.
2 Guide, not tell
You are there to guide, facilitate and motivate them through change, and ensure that they remain responsible throughout. It may seem easier and quicker to ‘tell’ them what to do, and there are times when this is necessary. However, time must be put aside to coach the person or team into discovering and committing to how they will achieve their goals.
3 Don't give the answers
The skills, attributes and attitudes required for successful coaching are different from those needed in leading and managing. Coaching is all about getting the coachee to do the thinking, and come up with answers.
4 Practice the right skills
In order to take on the role of a coach the skills that you need to develop include:
- active listening
- good questioning techniques
- letting the people look through their lens at the world and not yours
- knowing when to challenge to encourage people to make change where necessary
- being able to stop yourself giving the answers
The last is fundamental to the success of being an effective coach, and probably the most difficult skill to practise!
5 Maintain the right attitudes
As a coach the attitudes you portray should include:
- a positive outlook
- a high energy to keep up the motivation of your coachee
- a high level of interest
- a never ending desire to enable your coachee to succeed in their language
- having only one agenda – that of the person being coached
6 Their needs, not yours
Be:
- non judgemental
- a good listener
- consistently honest with integrity
- professional, ethical and confidential at all times
- a good communicator
7 Learn the GROW model
For more information on the GROW Model click here
8 Remember both partners have to do the work ...
9 Start from where the person is, now
10 Not immediate but long term
For more information on business coaching visit the Call of the Wild website. Find more information on our leadership training course and team building training course here.
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