Unlocking Potential: The Gift of Coaching Your Team

Coaching: The Ultimate Gift You Can Give Your Team

Let’s clear something up right from the start: development and coaching are not the same. In fact, thinking they are the same could be holding your team back from real growth.

Why Coaching Matters

Picture it this way: development hands over a map, while coaching empowers your people to chart their own course. Now, isn’t that where the true value lies? Coaching isn’t about dishing out answers like some kind of magic formula. It’s more about unlocking the potential that’s already waiting within your team.

Thinking back to my gymnastics days, I remember my coaches never performed the somersault for me. No, they supported me, asked the right questions, and helped me discover my own strength. That, my friends, is effective coaching in action.

So, how can you elevate your coaching game? Buckle up, because here comes some solid advice.

1. Ask Questions

First off, instead of jumping straight to solutions, why not guide your team to discover their own answers? Replace “Here’s what to do” with “What do you think?” Trust me, questions promote thought, and thought fosters growth. When your team is encouraged to think for themselves, they carry that knowledge forward, and that’s powerful.

2. Be Patient

Now let’s talk about patience. Coaching isn’t a rush. It’s more like a lovely scenic adventure. Allow for that space for exploration, reflection, and yes, even the occasional stumble. Often, it’s in those pauses that breakthroughs happen. You remember when you last learned something new? There was probably a bit of fumbling before the lightbulb went off.

3. Relinquish Control

Ah, the temptation to swoop in with the “right” answer. It’s like a shiny object we leaders just can’t resist sometimes. But here’s the kicker: your goal is to empower your team, not to save them. When your people create their own plans, they take ownership of their work and bring a fresh wave of enthusiasm to the table. And who doesn’t want an excited team?

4. You Don’t Need to Be an Expert

Now before you start panicking, remember this: you don’t have to be the top performer to be a great coach. Some of the best coaches I’ve come across aren’t the best players themselves. It’s about connecting with your team and helping them shine, rather than hogging the spotlight. In many ways, coaching is about recognising the talent right in front of you and nurturing it.

The Gift of Coaching

So today, take a moment to consider how you can give your team the gift of coaching. It’s a present that encourages them to think bigger and grow bolder, enabling them to become more than they ever thought possible. It’s not just about performance; it’s about creating a culture where everyone feels valued and empowered to reach their potential.

As we wrap up, I’d love to throw a question your way: How are you planning to embrace coaching within your leadership approach? Because your team—and frankly, we all—could benefit immensely from it.

So, let’s chat over coffee. What coaching strategies have you found particularly effective?

#CitySkills #coaching #leadershipdevelopment