4.1 Coaching

Coaching is a more subtle process. Often you are helping people to find their own solutions to specific challenges they face.

Advantages of coaching:

Each session can be quick

Flexible – can find a time that works; if that is morning, lunch or evening, it isn’t so critical

Directly targeted for application – based on solving real problems the person is currently facing

Disadvantages of coaching:

Needs extended time – weeks or months

Doesn’t really scale – needs one on one work

Easy to slip into “telling” rather than coaching

Easy to slip into “doing for” rather than coaching – especially if you’re managing the person

Needs some time and practice to learn how to coach effectively (but not more than learning to train)