Effective Coaching Skills
There are many skills, characteristics and behaviours that a coach needs to possess to enable them to be an effective workplace coach. Coaching is unlike training, the qualities required for a good coach are different to those found in other disciplines.
Listening
listening is more important than talking. By listening, the coachee can be helped to overcome their fears, be offered complete objectivity and be given the undivided attention and support of the coach.
Communication Skills
Coaching is a two-way process, so being able to communicate with no personal agenda, and without judging or influencing, especially when the coach is dealing with the coachee personal anxieties, hopes, aspirations, dreams and ambitions.
Rapport-building
A
coach’s ability to build a rapport with the coachee is of paramount importance. Normally the ability comes from a desire to help people, which all coaches tend to possess. Rapport-building is made far easier because the coach is only focusing on the coachee. When a coach supports a coachee in this way it speeds up the rapport –building process.
Questioning
All questions that are asked by the coach should be prevailing and effective allowing the coachee to provide all the information to the coach, such questions should be open rather than closed questions.
Encouraging and supporting
The coach should be able to support and encourage the coachee so that they are able to move forward, develop themselves and improve their skills to achieve the current task.
Feedback
The coach should be able to give positive feedback, he or she should tell the coachee on a regular basis what they are doing well and what they are doing not so well at.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an important aspect of coaching, not only is it expected professionally but ethical as well. It forms the trust between the coach and coachee. If the coachee doesn’t feel able or safe to share their thoughts and feelings, then the whole exercise is a waste of time. If the coachee believes their coach has been discussing their issues with anyone else, then the relationship will deteriorate and the whole process would be in jeopardy.
Listening
listening is more important than talking. By listening, the coachee can be helped to overcome their fears, be offered complete objectivity and be given the undivided attention and support of the coach.
Communication Skills
Coaching is a two-way process, so being able to communicate with no personal agenda, and without judging or influencing, especially when the coach is dealing with the coachee personal anxieties, hopes, aspirations, dreams and ambitions.
Rapport-building
A
coach’s ability to build a rapport with the coachee is of paramount importance. Normally the ability comes from a desire to help people, which all coaches tend to possess. Rapport-building is made far easier because the coach is only focusing on the coachee. When a coach supports a coachee in this way it speeds up the rapport –building process.
Questioning
All questions that are asked by the coach should be prevailing and effective allowing the coachee to provide all the information to the coach, such questions should be open rather than closed questions.
Encouraging and supporting
The coach should be able to support and encourage the coachee so that they are able to move forward, develop themselves and improve their skills to achieve the current task.
Feedback
The coach should be able to give positive feedback, he or she should tell the coachee on a regular basis what they are doing well and what they are doing not so well at.
Confidentiality
Confidentiality is an important aspect of coaching, not only is it expected professionally but ethical as well. It forms the trust between the coach and coachee. If the coachee doesn’t feel able or safe to share their thoughts and feelings, then the whole exercise is a waste of time. If the coachee believes their coach has been discussing their issues with anyone else, then the relationship will deteriorate and the whole process would be in jeopardy.