Message of the Day - A key to Understanding

Good Morning,

 

My current read is “The Tao of Coaching” by Max Landsberg (http://www.amazon.com/Tao-Coaching-Effectiveness-Inspiring-Around/dp/188823234X). It is an allegory, showing the training and developing of a manager into a successful coach.

 

Early on is a section on asking questions. Max Landsberg says that part of what a good coach does is not just giving information and showing how to perform a task. A good coach will know how to ask good, thought provoking, questions as well. The purpose of asking questions is, of course, to get more information. As a coach, having more information means having more tools and avenues to approach helping your ‘coachee’ or protégé. Questions can pull out hopes, aspirations, as well as frustrations, concerns and past failures.

 

One of the big mistakes that coaches can make is to think that since they know a lot about a field or subject, that they know what information to give their protégé during their coaching sessions.

 

In Coaching, as in all areas of life, one size does not fit all. Every person is an individual. Everyone has their specific traits, hopes, desires, fears and concerns. By not catering to this individuality, you end up with giving information which is not best suited or even needed or wanted. How often have you been in a training session or a coaching session, and your coach or trainer goes over a subject that you know. You often become disengaged.

 

The worst I have ever seen was a personal trainer who I had a meeting with when I joined a gym in Maryland in 2001. We had both just come out of an open house training session with a Chiropractor. The personal trainer then, in our meeting, asked one or two questions and then started covering the SAME information that the chiropractor covered not more than 30 minutes earlier. I tuned out right away, and forgot pretty much anything else he had to say.

 

The best I have ever seen is Todd Arwood and Hope Stith from Todd Arwood Performance Partners. They ask questions consistently through every training session and keep everyone engaged. I am a huge fan!

 

Asking Questions is the key!

 

Asking questions helps you find what is important to your protégé, and helps both of you to stay tuned in and engaged.

 

Asking questions is a key to understanding!

 

Enjoy!

 

Sanford Berenberg

Sanford@berenberg.net

http://sanfordberenberg.blogspot.com/

502-533-9336

 

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