There are many ways to define what coaching is.
One simple, practical way to sum up the coaching process is to think of it as helping someone perform a skill or solve a problem better than they would otherwise have been able to without your input.
An effective coach is an individual who possesses a wide range of positive personal qualities. These include:
- Patience and willingness to make time for other people.
- A calm and confident manner.
- Empathy and sensitivity when required.
- As well as the ability to challenge constructively when necessary.
Essential Skills
The ability for coaches to communicate well, build rapport quickly, provide effective listening, ask appropriate questions and contribute suitable feedback is essential.
Anyone aspiring to coach should work hard on honing these skills.
You will need them to provide the greatest benefit to those you will support.
Be Creative
Seek out opportunities for coaching that are appropriate to the work environment.
There is any number of ways that coaching could take place.
You could think about job shadowing.
Swapping of job roles.
Organising an event or chairing a meeting.
If not any of those, what might be a good potential coaching situation?
Task Analysis
It may be necessary when coaching in a specific task to produce a basic Task Analysis.
This a step-by-step guide that you can use as an aid to ensure a task is carried out to consistent standards.
A Task Analysis can take many forms.
It could be a series of written steps. Photographs. Diagrams. Screen dumps. Short ‘YouTube’ style clips or even audio instruction.
Whatever works best.
Always consider what learning style the person your coaching has. A checklist might be good for you, but might not be the ideal learning style for them.
Feedback
When observing the person being supported in action, remember a couple of the basics when giving them feedback.
Tell them ‘well done’ before moving on to what they could have done differently.
You could give them your thoughts about what they could ‘more of’ or ‘less of’ next time.
Yourself
As well as helping others to grow and become better, the coach should also be on a journey of continual learning and development.
The knowledge, skills and abilities of any coach need to be relevant and up to date.
Always look for ways to develop yourself so that you can help develop others.
These thoughts on Coaching Skills are provided in no particular order.
I provide these thoughts on Coaching Skills in no particular order. A good coach has the potential to make a huge positive difference to the individual with whom they are involved.
So, apply these thoughts when helping others to be better than they would have been as a result of your support and your Coaching Skills.