Coaching involves two very important parties:

• The coach
• The coachee

The relationship and interaction between these two individuals impacts the overall success of the process. Recently, the InSync team shared what skills make coaches effective: thoughtful questioning techniques, foundational models, and a personalized approach.

Professional development doesn’t get more personalized than one-on-one coaching.

According to the International Coaching Federation, professional coaching is a “thought-provoking and creative process that inspires [people] to maximize their personal and professional potential.” This definition reinforces two key ideas:

• Coaching encourages creative thinking. Through the process, coaches encourage participants to think outside of the proverbial box in order to identify improved ways of doing things.
• Coaching requires personal assessment. Coaches don’t necessarily tell participants what’s wrong with their methodologies. Instead, they offer opportunities for pointed personal contemplation about their current approaches and areas of potential growth.

Some folks talk about training as “coaching." I think they have the metaphor wrong. Coaching means developing skills within a team by repetitive drilling and motivating them using a combination of respect and fear. Real training is nothing like that. Real training is more like cheerleading than coaching. 

Engage the Players (Learners)

So I’m standing in a conference room with my trusty slide deck and handouts, looking out at the other folks in the room for my training. My position looks like it’s up front but really I’m on the sidelines. The real action will be with those learners.