| Coaching Provides New Distinctions/Openings for
Empowering Others in Action
By Jim Selman
As a context, coaching is a stand for another’s or a team’s commitments within a committed relationship.
As a process, coaching involves dialogue to show ‘new’ possibilities and practices.
As a result, coaching occurs in the inspired action of the coachee(s) and their results
- Long-term
- Self-correcting
- Self-generating
A coach listens for possibility, for what’s missing and for commitment. They observe action and speak/listen in such a manner as to evoke new action.
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FOCUSING QUESTIONS FOR CAPACITY DEVELOPMENT
To whom (in what situation) are you committed to provide coaching? Be specific.
- What opening/possibility do you see?
- What breakdown do you see given a commitment to a possibility?
- What is missing in terms of the competence of who you are committed to coach?
- What assessments do you make with respect to the person(s) you want to coach?
Is your relationship sufficient for coaching? Are they enrolled? Is there a demand?
- Do they see possibility for themselves?
- Are you and they clear about their commitments and conditions of satisfaction?
- Is conversation now future-oriented?
- Is there a ‘mood’ of enthusiasm for what is to be accomplished together?
Is the coaching contract clear?
- What do you expect of coachee(s)?
- How will we handle breakdowns? Do you have their permission to lean into their blind spots?
- When, how often and in what forms will you communicate/meet?
What breakdowns do you anticipate in the coaching relationship/process? What actions can you now see that would be appropriate?
What strategies/circumstances have you used in the past to avoid commitment, quit or give up on someone else’s commitment? For example:
- Rationalize
- Get too busy
- Forget to follow up or follow through
- Give in to discomfort
- Not talk straight
- Try force
THE MODEL (Domains of Being/Communication)
Coaching
(Possibility) |
Acting
(Process) |
Results
(Outcomes) |
- Structures of Interpretation
- Paradigms
- Contexts
|
- Performance
- Behavior
- Experience
|
- Concepts
- Explanations
- Stories
- Measurable(s)
|
Changes with New Stands/
Distinctions/Declarations |
Changes with New Commitment /Practices in Time (for example, requests and promises) |
Changes with New Action and Agreements (for example, accepted assertions) |
LANGUAGE |
BIOLOGY |
HISTORY |
THE PROCESS
- Look for openings
- Is there an opening?
- Assessment
- Design conversation
- Coaching
- Is coachee enrolled?
- Follow-up #1
- Can coachee see opening?
- Design next conversation
- Coaching
- Acknowledge progress
- Can coachee self-generate?
- Acknowledge progress
- Etc.
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OPPORTUNITIES FOR COACHING
- Performance Assessment
- Breakdowns (business, projects, personal)
- Broken Promises
- Requests for Coaching
- Observed ‘Missing’ (for example, a new skill)
- Hallway Conversations
COACHING COMPETENCIES
- Ability to observe/listen for gap between possibility and action
- Ability to communicate so that coachee can ‘see’ what coach sees
- Ability to enroll, engage and support coachee in taking new action
- Ability to assist coachee(s) to complete past wins and failures (to be present)
COACHING SKILLS
- Speaking
- Listening
- Declaring and Resolving Breakdowns
- Assessing
- Designing Conversation / New Practices
BACKGROUND QUALITIES
- Ground Rules
- Self-Consistency
- Flexibility/Creativity
- Patience
- Compassion
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© 2007 Jim Selman. All rights reserved. |
