Coaching skills

- Success in any endeavor requires skill, and coaching is no different. There are core skills you'll need to master to become an outstanding coach. Your effectiveness, coupled with a willingness on the part of those you coach, can lead to great things. Let's look at several skills that will help you master the art of coaching. Goal setting. Coaching is about improving performance and results. The only way you know if you're improving is by using some measuring stick. That's where goal setting comes in. You want to work in a collaborative way with those you coach so they own their goals, rather than seeing them as imposed on them. Ideally, you want to help coachees set goals that will require them to stretch themselves. Listening. Stephen Covey, author of the Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, said, "Most people don't listen with the intent to understand, "they listen with the intent to reply." Listening is perhaps the most underdeveloped skill because people mistake hearing for listening. More than any other skill, listening will help you across all relationships, because good listening is so lacking in our fast-paced world. Questioning. Good questions help people take ownership. Tom Hopkins, author of How to Master the Art of Selling highlights this truth when he tells audiences, "When you say it, they doubt it, "but when they say it, they believe it." Telling someone what to do will never be as effective as helping them come up with a solution on their own using good questions. Rapport. Have you ever met someone you liked instantly? Sure you have. You probably liked them because consciously, or subconsciously, you had an immediate connection. We call that rapport. Building rapport is important, because the more someone knows and likes you, the easier it will be to take your coaching feedback. Trust. Trust is vital to any strong relationship, because without it, there's no good reason for people to go along with your advice. When there's a lack of trust, someone will either shut down or question your motives. Trust on top of rapport is a powerful combination to speak into someone's life. Accountability. Accountability is much easier when you have a good relationship built on a foundation of trust. If someone likes and trusts you, they'll be far more open to your feedback. Holding someone's feet to the fire while keeping them motivated is what accountability is all about. There are other skills that come in handy when it comes to coaching, but these six stand out because of how vital they are. Which one can you do without if you want to be a successful coach? None. When you apply these skills in your coaching practice along with some basic psychology, you have a recipe for success.