“How can I coach my team? I only have 20 mins with them!” What if I tell you that even a few minutes are enough to have a powerful coaching conversation, if you have these 3 elements in place.
As a #leader, you have probably realized that in today’s times it is impossible for you to have all the answers. Adopting a #coaching approach allows you to shift from giving orders to empowering others to find their own solutions. Through coaching, you develop others and in turn, enhance your own effectiveness by avoiding overwhelm & over-work.
Like it came up in my recent coaching session, one of the biggest challenges that leaders cite for not having more coaching conversations is paucity of time. 𝐓𝐡𝐞 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐭𝐡 𝐢𝐬 𝐭𝐡𝐚𝐭 𝐞𝐟𝐟𝐞𝐜𝐭𝐢𝐯𝐞 𝐜𝐨𝐚𝐜𝐡𝐢𝐧𝐠 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞𝐬 𝐬𝐤𝐢𝐥𝐥, 𝐟𝐨𝐜𝐮𝐬 & 𝐢𝐧𝐭𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐨𝐧, 𝐛𝐮𝐭 𝐢𝐭 𝐝𝐨𝐞𝐬𝐧’𝐭 𝐚𝐥𝐰𝐚𝐲𝐬 𝐫𝐞𝐪𝐮𝐢𝐫𝐞 𝐥𝐚𝐫𝐠𝐞 𝐚𝐦𝐨𝐮𝐧𝐭𝐬 𝐨𝐟 𝐭𝐢𝐦𝐞.
In fact, you can seize coaching opportunities that arise in the course of your everyday work and multiply your leadership impact. View coaching not as an occasional formal conversation, but as an ongoing process that can take place even during informal exchanges in hallways, 1:1s, over lunch, in video calls etc.
Use these 3 keys to unlock the power of coaching conversations, #inspire and #engage your team:
🔑 𝐁𝐮𝐢𝐥𝐝 𝐭𝐫𝐮𝐬𝐭 𝐚𝐧𝐝 𝐫𝐚𝐩𝐩𝐨𝐫𝐭: Coaching conversations are built on a foundation of #trust. Before coaching others, it is important to establish a positive relationship with them, free from judgement. Be intentional about getting to know them. Understand their goals, values, emotions, aspirations, and challenges. Trust gives people the #courage to be vulnerable and go deeper in self-discovery – accelerating the coaching process.
🔑 𝐃𝐞𝐦𝐨𝐧𝐬𝐭𝐫𝐚𝐭𝐞 𝐀𝐮𝐭𝐡𝐞𝐧𝐭𝐢𝐜 𝐜𝐚𝐫𝐞: Coaching takes place in a safe space, where others can speak up, you can challenge them & facilitate behavioral change. People are less resistant when they feel that you care for them. Demonstrate #care by prioritizing others’ needs, being compassionate, having a genuine desire to help and support their success, without any ulterior motives. Feeling cared for and safe, gives people the #confidence to step out of their comfort zone – a critical success factor in coaching.
🔑 𝐋𝐢𝐬𝐭𝐞𝐧 𝐰𝐢𝐭𝐡 𝐜𝐮𝐫𝐢𝐨𝐬𝐢𝐭𝐲: While entering into a conversation, don’t assume that you know what it is about or jump to providing a solution. Be #curious to fully understand where others are coming from. Shift from “telling” to asking questions, paying attention to both verbal and non-verbal communication. Engage in dialogue, encouraging others to reflect and express themselves. Feeling heard, understood and valued #motivates people to find their own answers – a key objective of coaching.
➡️ What happens when you transform everyday conversations into coaching moments? Share your thoughts with me.
#leadershipcoaching #leadership #leadwithclarity
Coach Saloni enables leaders to Lead With Clarity in an environment of permanent uncertainty.