Have you ever really thought about what coaching entails?
MOE’s Mark Bixter (with input from the other Growth & Positive Impact Directors) pulled together a Coaching A-Z.
A – Active and attentive listening
This is at the heart of all coaching, the best listeners make the best coaches.
B – Blame free
A blameless environment provides the safety for a coachee to be open and explore.
C – Clarifying
Clarifying what has been said allows the coachee’s understanding to deepen.
D – Development
Our development as coaches never stops. Stay curious, keep reading and learning.
E – EXACT model
Using the EXACT model allows for exciting and challenging goals to be set.
F – False assumptions
Coachees may have false assumptions about what they’re capable of. Coaches help them see past these assumptions.
G – Goals
A clearly defined goal helps the coachee see what they’re aspiring to.
H – Holding to account
Coaches hold their coachees to account to keep them moving forwards.
I – IOU (Interested or useful)
Coaches should always be asking useful questions that help the coachee. They shouldn’t be asking questions because they’re interested in the coachee’s content.
J – Journaling
This can be a great tool to reflect on your practice, identify ways to develop and recognise your own progress.
K – Knowledge
Coaches don’t need to have knowledge or expertise in the area that they are supporting their coachee in.
L – Listening
It’s the second time listening has come up, that’s because it’s twice as important as anything else!
M – Managing Time
Coaches need to manage the time so the coachee can manage their own thoughts.
N – Non-Judgemental
Coaching is a non-judgemental process.
O – Options
Coaches help their coachees to see the options available to them.
P – Permission
Always ask permission before making suggestions or talking about deeply sensitive topics.
Q – Questioning
Good coaches ask good questions that encourage coachees to think.
R – Reality
This is where the hard work happens in coaching. Help your coachee deeply explore their current reality.
S – Silence
One of the most powerful coaching tools is allowing silence.
T – Thinking
If coachees have thought in ways they previously hadn’t, coaches have done a good job.
U – Unconscious mind
Activating the unconscious mind enables coachees to identify new opportunities through their RAS (Reticular Activating System).
V – Values
Coaches help coachees to identify and live by their own values.
W – Will
Coaches need to check that their coachee is not just taking an action that they think that they should do, but an action that they have the will to do. Check their commitment (1 to 10).
X – X Factor
When setting goals we’re looking for the X Factor. What is it that sets our coachees dreams on fire?
Y – Yourself
Good coaching can only take place if you look after yourself first. Do what you need to ensure you fully show up for your coachees.
Z – Zen
Find your own moments of zen before and after a coaching session to allow you to reflect, unwind and shake off the content of the session.
What would your coaching A-Z include?
