Coaching Through Listening

Many of us make the process of coaching more complicated than it need to be. Whenever I talk to people about who their best coaches were, they inevitably describe someone who was a good listener. This week, whenever you are coaching, actively practice being a good listener. To do so:

• Think about the questions you want to ask , rather than the points you want to make
• Practice asking these questions instead of giving direct orders
• Really listen to the answers
• Paraphrase what it is that you heard and ask the person if you heard them correctly
• Thank them for taking the time to talk to you and to answer your questions

"Listening to your team is the first step to getting
their commitment to do anything. If you do not hear what they have to say,
they may not choose to buy in to what you want them to do."
-Bruce Baumbach, Plant Manager at GEMA Plant Daimler-Chrysler