You are a diamond in the making! There has never been anyone like you before and never will be. You are unique and born with a purpose. Yet, to bring out that diamond in you, coaching is a must.
In the business world, coaching is becoming more and more popular, because it produces tangible results.
When we think of coaching, the first thing that comes to mind is our parents, older siblings, teachers, supervisors and of course, sport trainers. What was the result of their coaching? It helped develop skills, knowledge and attitudes and took our performance to the next level. Eventually, even without being aware, we began to excel and gain mastery in the areas trained.
A careful study of leaders who have made an indelible mark in history will show they were experts in coaching. Many of them expended their energy in creating exceptional diamonds who continued to expand their vision and mission in life. This goes to show that coaching is one of the most powerful forms of leadership.
Effective coaching
Coaching could be defined in simple terms as, the development techniques used to enhance skills, knowledge or workplace performance. As a business development tool, coaching began to gather popularity in the 1980s. It developed as a branch of support oriented professions, such as, counselling and psychotherapy. Great workplaces are committed to support the growth and development of their staff since they want them to perform at higher levels. From their past experiences, they know that effective coaching produces champions.
Why coaching fails
Do all coaching produce excellence? Research indicates, on many occasions coaching fails to achieve its anticipated results. Frequently, it ends up deflating employee motivational levels, slowing down performance and disrupting staff engagement. Why? The answer lies in the origins of traditional coaching.
For, traditional coaching is firmly rooted on the principles of praising and helping people to achieve personal and professional goals. It espouses the non-directive approach – where you ask questions from the trainees; listen and offer supportive advice. It also promotes the trainee’s agenda, where he/she decides on the pace of things and topics covered. Finally, it is structured to build a rapport which aims to establish a strong empathy between coach and coachee.
GROW model
For example, the popular GROW (Goal, Reality, Options, Will) coaching model by Sir John Whitmore, puts into practice many of the traditional principles. As a coaching methodology, this instrument which is based too much on praise and unconditional positive feedback, could more often than not, backfire.
However, as a counselling tool, this methodology might be very effective in helping people to find their own solutions in a safe and empathetic environment.
Honest feedback
What is required is an honest feedback, without fuelling the egos of trainees, as iron sharpens iron. In practical scenarios, people relent being pushed out of their comfort zones to explore greater heights of growth. They are happy with their familiar surroundings and will do everything to hold on to their old ways of doing things. We see this in children, students, teachers, instructors and employees. To bring them out of their cocoons, they should be challenged with ambitious targets, given honest feedback and adequate support.
Be a fearless coach
We need coaches who can make people shine brightly like diamonds in their professional and personal calling. Feedback should give the much needed information to change and grow. It should also inspire people to strive for greater heights.
Hold your trainees responsible to the commitments they make. Set courageous goals that excite, inspire and transform. Be on the watch out, since coaching can create tension. But, remember, as one aims to achieve higher levels of performance, it is natural to feel tensed. Make the trainees catch the bigger picture: the customers they serve and the enormous service they extend to mankind. Encourage your trainees to pursue their dreams and their innate desires. Do not withhold them from expressing their uniqueness. The best you can do as a coach is, identify, inspire and develop what you see inside your trainees and make it come to the fullest expression on the outside. Remember, every priceless diamond is in the hands of a fearless diamond cutter!
(The writer is an HRD & Business Psychology Practitioner)