We Are All Coaches

A great number of people work as coaches, with specialties ranging from health and weight loss to life transitions and general goal setting. But even if you aren’t a professional coach, you still — whether you’re aware of it or not — use coaching methods to help encourage, understand, and motivate others. Whether it’s urging your teenage daughter to clean her room, helping a friend with her next career move, or prompting a co-worker to pull his or her own weight, coaching helps both ourselves and others lead more productive, positive lives. The three main coaching ingredients that lead to successful outcomes include active listening, clear communication, and non-judgmental evaluations. When you put on your coaching hat, make sure that you’re “listening to hear, instead of listening to speak.” In other words, take the time to hear what the other person is trying to say, without jumping in with an opinion. No matter how well intentioned, it’s best to wait until the person has had the time to reveal why he or she may be acting a certain way before administering any kind of remedy. Also, meeting in a private place where you won’t be interrupted helps this process, even if it’s as casual as the scenario of urging your daughter, Claire, to clean her room. For instance, Claire may be even messier than usual because she’s been feeling depressed about a recent break-up. If her little brother intrudes into the conversation, she may not be as likely t...
Source: World of Psychology - Category: Psychiatry & Psychology Authors: Tags: Family Friends General Industrial and Workplace Motivation and Inspiration Professional Self-Help Success & Achievement Active Listening coaching Communication Conflict Resolution Confrontation non-judgment support Source Type: blogs