Introduction to Coaching
Although I did keep a diary when I was a young girl, this will be my first foray into journaling. From the readings about journaling this week, I can see how important this tool is for my personal development. Journaling is way for me to record my own feelings and progress as I make the journey to become an exceptional leader coach. In this paper, I will look at my experiences with coaching; consider what has worked well in the past and look at how what I’ve learned thus far can suit my needs in the future. I will also take the time to discuss how I can use my personal strengths to become a more effective leader-coach.
Peak Experiences
My coaching experience is practically non-existent. In fact, aside from elementary school softball and middle school track, my only coaching experience is the GROW method of coaching I gave and received during my first class here at Capella. I’ve only recently had my first session with my Capella provided coach, so there’s not much to draw on there. Nevertheless, I’ve still had some peak experiences through coaching.
In working with my coach in a previous class, I was pleasantly surprised to discover that I have the answers I need to improve my levels of performance. All I needed were the right questions. My coach did an exceptional job of guiding me through the GROW method of setting goals, examining reality, looking at options, and finding the will to make the necessary changes. She was able to help me look at what I wanted and what I needed to get it in a new way. In the end, I loved that I had true ownership of the solution!
Peak coaching experiences also came when I played the role of coach. Both of my coachees praised the way I asked the same questions in several different ways. By looking at their situations from a variety of perspectives, they were able to design an effective plan of action. “The ultimate design incorporates as many of the skills and strengths of the client as possible or appropriate” (Orem, Binkert, & Clancy, 2007, p. 19). By drawing out what they really wanted from the situation, I was able to help them find the solution they needed. What was truly amazing for me was how easy it was to concentrate on what somebody else needed. By keeping my focus on the coachee, I was able to become a better coach.
What Works for Me?
According to Whitmore (2009), coaching “is a way of managing, a way of treating people, a way of thinking, [and] a way of being” (p. 19). When I look at coaching in this way, I can see that it is going to be an important part of my professional life. I’m a firm believer in being honest with yourself and others, and my way of being is to treat people with the same respect I’d like to receive. This works for me. I’ve found that we are all the star of our own life. We are the key player, and the most important person we know. By paying as much attention to what others have to say as I do to myself helps people open which in turn helps me to discover what makes them tick.
I don’t really have any past references to draw on when it comes to coaching, but I do know what has worked for me in the past in regard to personal development. “When there is a conscious learning focus, an intention to reflect and identify lessons for the purpose of being more effective in the future...then development is occurring” (Ting & Scisco, 2006, p. 27). Since I sobered up fifteen years ago, I have consciously been trying to improve myself. My professional development is an ongoing learning process. Now that I am in a graduate program, I find that I use intentional reflection to understand my motivators and myself. These reflections work for me, and I continue to grow and develop.
My Strengths
My two biggest strengths when it comes to coaching others are my honesty, and my natural curiosity about other people. I love hearing their stories! I continue asking questions in an effort to draw them out, and I find it works because most people love talking about themselves. Kouzes and Posner (2007), tell us “Credibility is the foundation of leadership” (p. 37). My credibility comes from my honesty, and my honesty is what draws many people towards me. I do what I say I will do, and while I try to be tactful, I am sometimes brutally honest. I’m still working on the tact, but I have found that, cliché as it might sound; honesty is the best policy.
In the future, I plan to continue utilizing these strengths, and hopefully continue to develop them. I want to be able to reach through to the people I work with, and think appreciative coaching is going to help with that. I’m intrigued with accentuating the positive and expect to see it help my students grow in ways they never imagined.
Conclusion
With my first foray into journaling, I can see how helpful it will be in the future. I’ve been able to delve into my own thoughts and opinions without worrying about saying the right thing. I have discovered that journaling is another tool I can use in understanding the world around me, and my own place in the scheme of things. My coaching experience may be limited, but upon reflection, I can see that I have made more progress that I thought. My questioning skills have improved, as have my relationships with the people I’ve coached. I know that I’ll continue to utilize my strengths, and plan to add more strengths to my arsenal of effective coaching tools as I develop through this class.
