What Is This Thing Called Coaching?

"What is this thing called coaching?" I must get asked that question 10 times a day. I admit that coaching is a very vague term. When I say that I'm a certified coach, people ask if I coach sports teams. When I say that I actually coach business teams, people look surprised. 'Why would a business team need coaching', they ask? Because business teams are just like sports teams:

• They are made up of different people who try to reach a team goal together.
• Each person on the team has individual goals, as well as the team goal, in mind.
• Each person on the team has his/her own communication style, which may or may not work well with the others on the team.
• Although there is one official leader (the coach or captain), there are usually other team members who carry as much weight, if not more weight, than the official leader.

Just like a sports team, successful business teams have to practice, communicate clearly and delegate roles. They often need an 'outsider' to coach them to success, whether the whole team or just some of the team leaders. That's what I do. I coach teams and leaders to get from Point A to Point B, in the most effective way possible. I work with individuals, companies and non-profits. During the years, many people have asked for a practical book on coaching, so they can bring coaching skills to their own teams. That's how my book, "A Manager's Guide to Coaching" was created, thanks to my many, many clients. Here is a great write up about one of the book topics: How to create effective coaching questions. Enjoy!

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