It is now widely accepted that the core knowledge base of coaching consists of three distinct types: professional knowledge, interpersonal knowledge, and intrapersonal knowledge.Listening is a key skill for coaches to master. It involves more than just hearing what the other person is saying; it requires empathy and creating a space for the other person to express their perspective. To truly listen, the coach must put aside their own desire to find a solution or move quickly to the point. Listening is not a one-way street either; the coach must actively reiterate what the other person has said to ensure they understand without adding their own judgment, suggestions, or beliefs. Leadership involves both tangible and intangible aspects.
Ultimately, it comes down to the ability to connect with others and inspire them to perform in ways that benefit the organization. By focusing on the skills of listening, questioning, and planning action from a coaching perspective, leaders can build meaningful relationships with their team members, allowing them to lead and make decisions for themselves that will benefit everyone involved. Leaders are always looking for the most efficient and cost-effective way to improve their training skills. Here are three essential practices of effective coaching training that can help you analyze your options and find your path to excellence:First, specialized “live training” is necessary. This doesn't have to be in-person; it can be done live through an Internet platform such as Zoom.
Whatever you do, it should be live, interactive, and in the moment. Practicing 100 hours of training is worse than not practicing anything if you're making mistakes. Second, the International Coaching Federation (ICF) requires “mentor coaching” for participants in approved coaching training programs. This involves 10 hours of observed feedback as a coach specifically around improving your training skills. Third, people enjoy interactive talks and workshops because of their humor, interactivity, and practicality. I have facilitated leadership development and coaching processes in more than 20 countries. Perhaps the most crucial part of coaching is asking questions because it causes the other person to reflect and evaluate.
While there are numerous skills that a coach can use when working with a client, there are three key techniques that team leaders can start using right away that will have a significant impact on how they interact with their teams, teammates, and senior managers: listening, questioning, and planning action from a coaching perspective. Unlike mentoring where the leader can share personal experiences and provide advice, when asking questions with a coaching mentality, the goal is to help the person discover that idea for themselves. Coaching is a thought-provoking process in which the coach interacts with others to help them improve their performance and overcome challenges so they can thrive at an optimal level based on their own abilities, skills, and knowledge. You can't learn to train by watching a recorded video, reading a book, listening to a webinar, taking an online self-learning course or sitting in an auditorium with 200 other people. Every month I hear from people who have invested in training courses only to discover later how ineffective they were. A shortcut to choosing between several coaching training options is to check if they are approved by the ICF as a Level 1 and Level 2 education provider. Finally, according to the International Federation of Coaches (IFC), employees who receive training report significant increases in engagement, retention, and collaboration.
