Great Coaching Behaviours - Part I
1. Active Listening: Building Bridges of Understanding
Active listening is more than just hearing words—it’s about truly understanding the coachee. Here’s how:
Full Attention Without Interruptions: A coach’s presence is pivotal. By eliminating distractions, maintaining eye contact, and avoiding interruptions, coaches convey genuine interest.
Reflecting Back for Understanding: Restating or paraphrasing ensures clarity and shows empathy. For example, “So, you’re saying you feel stuck because you lack direction?” allows coachees to feel heard and reflect further.
Clarifying Questions for Deeper Insights: Asking, “What do you think caused this challenge?” or “Can you expand on that?” helps uncover hidden thoughts and perspectives.
2. Empathy and Emotional Intelligence: Connecting Beyond Words
Empathy builds trust, while emotional intelligence adapts interactions to the coachee’s needs.
Creating a Safe Space: Coaches can say, “This is a judgment-free zone; feel free to share anything on your mind.” This reassurance fosters openness.
Understanding and Validating Feelings: Phrases like, “I can see why you’d feel that way,” validate emotions, encouraging vulnerability.
Adapting Communication Style: A coach might use humor to lighten the mood for a stressed coachee or adopt a serious tone when discussing challenges, aligning with the coachee’s state.
3. Goal Orientation: Turning Dreams into Action Plans
Coaching transforms aspirations into actionable goals.
Defining Clear Objectives: Using SMART criteria, a coach might guide the coachee to reframe “I want to succeed” into “I aim to improve team collaboration within six months.”
Balancing Long-Term Growth with Immediate Wins: A coach can say, “While achieving this promotion is a short-term win, how does it align with your broader career aspirations?”
Regular Progress Reviews: Check-ins like, “Last session, we discussed X; how has it progressed?” ensure accountability.
If you want more information about our individual coaching sessions or training about coaching send me a mail at alexander@tc3.be
Kind regards,
Alexander