Coaching is a deliberate process that helps others to move forward toward achieving their goals by paying attention to their intentions.
Personal and business coaching comprise a series of interactive conversations, generally scheduled on a regular or periodic basis. The conversations take place either in a confidential face-to-face meeting or via telephone.
Coaching without intentional action is just another conversation. Taking intentional action includes determining specific actions that are well suited to the project or goal being discussed. Taking action includes taking the time to think, observe others and determine strategy and tactics.
Effective coaching helps people determine, then take, intentional and meaningful actions.
Once the actions are determined, the manager or coach asks questions to help anchor the action and ensure accountability, removal of obstacles and positive outcomes. Activating questions might include, "What will you do when you encounter that obstacle?" "How will you keep moving forward even if the other person doesn't cooperate?" "What else do you need in order to take that action?"
Sometimes, coaching requires having to provoke the person to expand their personal expectations by asking him or her to think bigger or more strategically. When coaching, it is important to be courageous in challenging the person being coached to think through the intended action(s). Worst-case scenario and unintended consequence thinking is a useful tool that simply involves asking the question: "What is the worst thing that can happen, and how can you be prepared for that?"
In the coaching process, as in meetings, it is critical to include a few minutes for review in order to reach agreement on the next steps and to ensure success and forward motion. Ask the person being coached to go over his or her intended action(s), and don't hesitate to ask "by when" as needed. The probability for follow-through increases when people themselves state their actions and timelines, rather than being told what these are.
Source: Madeleine Homan: Coaching in Organizations: Best Coaching Practices from The Ken Blanchard Companies
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