The Manager’s Coaching Toolkit: Fast and Simple Solutions for Busy Managers

Learning points summary

• Use OPERA to help a coachee make a decision, assess a situation, identify forces pushing for and against a proposition, then to maximize the driving forces (push forces for) and minimize the restraining forces (push forces against) around the situation or proposition.

• The OPERA tool can be used creatively in any situation where the aim is to balance and adjust the forces working for and against a decision, an idea or a change.

• The tool incorporates Kurt Lewin’s force field analysis model.

• Using the diagram, writing the factors down and rating them gives focus and structure to the coaching conversation, and allows the coachee to see the issue clearly.

• Use numbers instead of A-B-C ratings, to provide a quantitative measurement. ...