Coaching isn’t Sophisticated Telling
| Commentary by Christeen Akkarawatte
When someone asks us for help, do we just give
them directions, or do we help them solve the problem? Or, is it that
considered the same? It gets you to wonder whether you’re actually coaching the
person or just laying out the answers.
Coaching helps shape our colleagues’ mind, get
them to think from a different perspective and have them come into their own
conclusion. Solutions are not always black and white, one would need to put
some thought into it and when someone asks for help, guiding them doesn’t
necessarily mean answers should be given out.
Hence, the title. Coaching is an opportunity
for one to put forth some new insights and experience into the picture – not
really a sophisticated way of answering a question.
My thoughts on this idea of coaching came about
after reading Margie Hartley’s article. She encourages her readers to take a
step back and question oneself; are we really coaching?
_________________________________________________________________________
Coaching Isn’t Sophisticated
Telling
You know the scenario. We are in a hurry and
someone comes and asks you about a problem or situation that really should and
could make a great coaching conversation. This is an opportunity for the other
person to really think through their problem and learn from this conversation
and come up with their own solutions. But instead, because we are busy and
because we really think we know the answer, we don't have a coaching
conversation…. we just tell them what to do. We don't really listen through the
issue or ask any clarifying questions or even check on their goal and we forget
to ask questions that allow them to see another perspective.
We all do this, even the best leaders fall into
the trap of telling when we could be coaching.
“But the worst conversation is when we blend
telling and coaching and call it coaching and just end up telling people what
to do in a slightly more sophisticated way"
There is nothing more frustrating that being on
the receiving end of a conversation that isn’t coaching and is really just
telling but is being called or delivered as coaching.
If you find yourself falling into this trap,
try to catch yourself and ask yourself simply...is this a coaching
conversation?
·
If the answer is yes, then the opportunity is
all about facilitating solution focused thinking rather than delivering the
solutions.
·
If the answer is no, then give the person
direction but please don't label it as coaching because it becomes confusing
for everyone, including you.
You would in fact be better off working out
exactly what this conversation is for and what it is about. To be an effective
leader is to be an effective coach and requires continuous practice and
learning on the job.
_________________________________________________________________________
No comments:
Post a Comment