Coachamatic

One of the most educative experiences I’ve ever had was at a Coachville Certified Coach Intensive, run by Thomas Leonard in Sydney. And of the many valuable lessons over that weekend, one that sticks particularly in my mind and which I endeavour to apply in coaching is summed up in Thomas’ exhortation to ‘take your coach hat off’.

As those who learnt from Thomas know very well, he was a lover of paradox. So seasoned coaches present at that weekend intensive and who knew Thomas and his work were perhaps not as moved as I was by hearing that phrase from him and hearing his explanation.

But for me, fresh to the world of coaching, the concept was at first shocking nd then intriguing. As Thomas then led some experienced coaches in demonstration coaching exercises, I watched in fascination to see what the principle might mean in practice.

In the event, I was struck by how difficult it proved, for a coach stepping up to play the coach in the demonstration, to ’stop coaching’ and really listen to the person being coached. It was evident from the kind of ’silent buzz’ in the room that I was not alone in observing that the person being coached did not feel she was really being listened to and the coach was evidently not picking that up or was unsure about how to handle it.

We, the observers, could all see that the person in the coach role was working hard to ‘do coaching’ well, whereas what was needed was to really listen to the person being coached. What was needed was to do what Thomas had said and ‘take the coach hat off’.

I believe there is no end to learning in this profession and no point at which we can reasonably say we know enough, so I don’t interpret the principle to mean that we don’t need to study coaching principles or to learn and hone coaching skills and techniques.

But I do find that I seem to coach better when, the moment the coaching session starts, I put the theory to one side and really listen, person to person, with my Coach hat off.

Posted on Oct 9th 06 by Des Walsh.

Formerly a senior government executive and for the past eighteen years a business owner, Des Walsh mentors business owners who are keen to go to their next level and keen to stay unfried in the process. He is also a blogging evangelist, specializing in strategic business use of blogging and other social media tools. His home base is Australia’s Gold Coast region. http://www.deswalsh.com

Other posts on Coachamatic by Des Walsh.