Five Characteristics of Coach Ability
If you are considering bringing coaching into your workplace here are five attributes observed in people who successfully “own” their part of the coaching process. You’ll find that many people are attracted to coaching but don’t appreciate that it’s not all about what the coach does for them but about what they do for themselves with the coach’s guidance. The person needs to make a firm commitment to be coached and to understand that he or she is also responsible for making the relationship work.
1. Committed to Change. Individuals who don’t think they’re perfect, want to improve, exhibit responsibility for their lives, and are willing to step outside of their comfort zones are good candidates for a successful coaching relationship.
2. Open to information about themselves. Be willing and able to listen and hear constructive criticism without being defensive; then, synthesize their coach’s suggestions with their own personal reflections on the issue.
3. Open about themselves. Willing to engage in topics that may be uncomfortable but are getting in the way of their professional development; talks about “what’s really going on” so the coach can have a complete and honest picture of the total situation.
4. Appreciate New Perspectives. People who get excited about hearing someone else’s take on a situation and figure out how to learn from it can really benefit from coaching.
5. Awareness about one’s self and others. Coachable people already have at least a fair amount of awareness about themselves. Equally important, they use it to reflect on their behaviour and how it impacts other people in the range of situations that come their way.
