subject: Leadership Coaching goes Beyond the Books…Apply what you Learn! [print this page] Leadership Coaching goes Beyond the BooksApply what you Learn!
What could you do to be better in leadership coaching? Many famous people accomplished so many things in their lives without ever taking a leadership course. So how did they achieve their many leaps and bounds? Through their trusted valuesthe values that guided them along as they reached their goals.
Hmm, what do I mean? Well, Gandhi never took a course on speaking out against violence, Walter Cronkite never took a course on how to have integrity, and Abraham Lincoln did not read a book on how to value diversity in all backgrounds and ethnicity. They all simply trusted what they knew was righttheir values.
How many times have we all told our children to never forget who they are or not to forget to use their manners. It is so easy to be caught up in what you want from other people to forget what values you have inside you. This mirrors an important first step in the coaching process; be supportive.
Don't get this confused. I did not say "do supportive." To support is a decision within you; an inside job you could say and has a direct regard on how you want to relate with other people. The Eight Step Coaching Model teaches the process, unfortunately, the focus ends up being on the techniques only.
Just focusing on a technique is down right manipulative. It is like sitting there and saying to you; "How can I say the objective to get other people to do things my way, to win my way, and convince them along the whole process?" Just like coaches in sports, the coaches must evaluate each in two aspects; skills and the style, showing the expression of the values that you hold.
Similarities between good parenting and good leadership coaching is a way of being, not just doing. The way of being, the way that we show our values to our subordinates directly affects our actions and behaviors. Which of the coaches would you prefer to work with? The one that is inspiring, holds themselves to the values that matter, do not treat you as a number and is fair OR the leader who has a great technique and strategy, always seems successful, allows no room for failure or the need to be human and does not communicate well?
My guess would be the first person. The one that hold their values high and takes their leadership coaching seriously.
