Questioning, listening and responding
The three core skills of a great coach are asking the right questions, truly listening to what is said and responding in such a way as to move the conversation purposefully forwards.
Listening
The most important tool you have as a coach is your ability to listen, which is not the same as your ability to hear. Good, careful listening is about giving your full attention to the other person, gathering clues from what is being said and picking up on what is not being said. As a guide, if you talk for more than 20 to 30 per cent of the time and listen for less than 70 per cent, you’re not coaching!
Learning Point
Knowing what kind of questions to ask is a key coaching skill. Add to that knowing how to listen ... |
Get The Manager’s Coaching Toolkit: Fast and Simple Solutions for Busy Managers now with the O’Reilly learning platform.
O’Reilly members experience books, live events, courses curated by job role, and more from O’Reilly and nearly 200 top publishers.
