Great Leaders are Great Coaches

Even though a significant portion of my income comes from my work as an external coach, I believe that an individual’s immediate boss is his or her best coach.  The problem is that a lot of managers don’t have the time or the skills to be an effective coach for the people they lead.

Recently, I read a book entitled Unleashed! Expecting Greatness and Other Secrets of Coaching for Exceptional Performance.  Gregg Thompson and Susanne Biro are the authors.

Unleashed! focuses on the Great Expectations Model explained in Chapter 2.  I like this model.  It is a common sense approach to coaching and developing people.  The model has three components:

·        Earning the right to coach.

·        Developing a perfect partnership

·        Conducting dangerous conversations

Each of these components has three sub points.

Earning the Right to Coach

·        Authenticity – Good coaches know and live their most important values.

·        Self Esteem – Good coaches are fully aware of their unique gifts and strengths.

·        Noble Intention – Good coaches have a genuine interest in helping others succeed.

Developing the Perfect Partnership

·        Appreciation – Good coaches appreciate the skills and talents of others.

·        Confrontation – Good coaches confront others with their talents and aspirations.

·        Accountability – Good coaches hold others accountable for living up to their talents and aspirations.

Dangerous Conversations

·        Discovery – Exploring others’ aspirations, values and current situation.

·        Creation – Generating new possibilities, opportunities and perspectives.

·        Commitment – Creating action plans and accountabilities.

The rest of the book explores the model in depth.  It is full of real life examples and lists of things that effective coaches do and say.

Unleashed! is an important book because it places coaching where it belongs – with managers and leaders.  And then it shows managers and leaders what they need to do to become effective coaches.

That’s it for today.  Thanks for reading.  Log on to my website www.BudBilanich.com for more common sense.  Check out my other blog: www.SuccessCommonSense.com for common sense advice on becoming the career and life success you are meant to be.

I’ll see you around the web, and at Alex’s Lemonade Stand.

Bud

PS: Speaking of Alex’s Lemonade Stand – my fundraising page is still open.  Please go to www.FirstGiving.com/TheCommonSenseGuy to read Alex’s inspiring story and to donate if you can.