Chapter Four
GOOD TO GREAT COACHING
Accelerating the Journey
For the past fifteen years, I have asked participants in my coaching workshops to list the characteristics of a good coach. Virtually every group, whether consisting of managers, HR professionals, new coaches, or seasoned coaches, places listening skills at the top of the list, followed by empathy and a genuine interest in the person, the ability to deliver honest, direct feedback, having integrity, and being trustworthy.
I then ask these groups to list the qualities of a great coach. These lists typically include comments such as “really gets the person to reflect,” “inspires people to want to change,” “takes people to higher levels,” “gets results,” and “has a passion ...