Coaches are a unique part of work and life. They provide guidance without pulling. They explore opportunities without pushing. They resolve issues without instructing.
It’s really quite a remarkable gift to be a good coach.
I’ve been a coach for just over 4 weeks now and I can tell you that it’s not easy. Some of us come from corporate Learning & Development, while others come from HR or academics. Coaches come from all sorts of places… some straight out of high school. (I wish I had that kind of foresight when I was younger.)
I have found that coaches, though not seen as an integral part of most organizations, can make all the difference when it comes to improving attitude, performance, and production.
Coaches are both managers and leaders without being either one in title or in practice.
Some of you may disagree, but hear me out on this radical idea.
Manager v. Coach
A good manager can keep people focused and targeted on task. A good manager can enforce policy and procedure to attain goals and achieve the bottom line. A good manager can provide evaluation and promotion.
A good coach manages people’s understanding of themselves inviting self-evaluation through open-ended questions, thus driving independent motivation to achieve at higher levels.
A good coach helps people to stay focused on what is important to them and do what matters most at work and in life, thereby fostering policy (and values) adherence, excellent work performance, and promotion if desired.
Leader v. Coach
A good leader can develop a strong vision of what is possible. A good leader can inspire others to do more than they imagined. A good leader can drive others to greatness.
A good coach leads people to create their own powerful visions. They generate internal inspiration in others to do more than they thought possible. They open new awareness in people that motivates them to find their magnificence and become who they really want to be.
Coaches do this through masterful conversations, using skills of acknowledging, championing, clarifying, reframing, validating, visioning, and so much more.
Coaches create environments of confidentiality and discovery, of safety and celebration, of accountability and empowerment.
Coaches do the jobs required of a manager and the use the skills requested of a leader by instilling the drive and intensity to succeed in each client they serve.
Your Mindful Moment:
Some need a good manager, others want a good leader, but everybody deserves a good coach!
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