The role of a coach is to help people clarify and achieve their goals. Being a helper means that the coach should not try to reach the goal himself or to prove that he is able to. The coach in the workplace acts just like a sports coach who will encourage, help and bring awareness to the athlete, who is then able to work towards achieving the result.
In a kitchen the head chef takes on the role of coach and will help his chefs understand what needs to be done to create a dish. By doing so, the head chef will delegate responsibility and power, which enables the chefs to learn through experience, which in turn is beneficial to both in the future.
The way the coach delivers his advice depends on the relationship he has with his pupil and the situation they are in. Coaching can be carried out informally, as part of a conversation, or more formally, such as on the job or during a review meeting.
Below are some tips to help you become an effective coach:
1. Cause or effect
One easy step to being a good coach is to ensure that the individual is taking responsibility for his actions. Taking responsibility and looking at what he could have done differently will yield better results.
2. Rapport
Getting on with the person you are helping is essential. It is worthwhile spending the time to get to know and understand your pupil because it will give you lots of ideas about his personality, what motivates him and how he can overcome any problems.
3. Find out what your pupil wants
Ask your pupil about his goal and what he wants to achieve. Ask questions such as “What would you feel like if you reached your goal?”, “What would the end result look like?” and “What would you say to yourself if you achieved it?” This way you will enhance the pupil’s belief about achieving the goal and make him more focused.
4. Taking a step back
If your pupil is having problems and feels like he has hit a stumbling block, get him to do something different, such as changing his surroundings by going for a walk or taking a lunch break. By taking him out of the situation, he should be able to take a step back mentally to look at the whole situation.
5. Ask, rather than tell
Often coaching is about getting the other person to realise the issues and to get them to find a solution. You may have an answer, but you need your pupil to come up with it on his own. Let him take charge of the situation, so that he will be more motivated and committed to achieving the goal.
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