What's the Power of Coaching

Realizing the word "coaching" pretty much sums up everything I know about leadership, managing people and succeeding at things got me digging back in memory for where I've noticed this in the past. I realize it's like the water fish swim in. It became so much a part of the environments I worked in that I didn't really notice that's what it was.

When you're new in leadership, you notice people come to you for all sorts of things, hoping you can solve their problems and give them what they think they need. If you fall into the trap of merely giving advice and answers (or at least giving these without also asking them what they want and what they're doing themselves), you soon slip further toward laying out for them exactly what they should do - ultimately giving direction and orders. It's an easy trap to fall into, especially if you got your new role by being the expert in whatever it is.

Naturally people ask for expert opinion and directions. Deadly. If you answer without involving them in the solution, you take responsibility. If they take your advice and it doesn't work, it doesn't become their fault, but yours.

The power of coaching is simply the opportunity for both of you to question each other and brainstorm and for them to choose the best direction based on their direct knowledge of what they're facing, something you may not be fully in touch with. Two heads really are better than one. So anyone can coach. Yet so many fall into the trap of making it only from their head that the answer emerges.