The Coaching Skills Checklist

My wife has taught me that I’m always more efficient when I bring a checklist to the grocery store instead of just randomly purchasing whatever comes to mind.  You know, this works the same with building a team.  Your coaching is always better when you have a checklist or guide to follow.  This way, you can stay on track, communicate and get the feedback you need to move forward.  Many times without a checklist, important points are missed.  Just like I missed the milk when I went to Publix the other day!

Use This Checklist to Optimize Your Coaching

1. Do you seize learning opportunities and focus on immediate performance problems for your team?
2. Do you try to develop a supportive, emotional bond with your team?
3. Do you observe your team’s behavior?
4. Do you have a process for driving your core values through your team?
5. Do you separate observation from judgements or assumptions?
6. Do you listen for your signals that your help is needed?
7. Do you prepare employees for coaching sessions in advance?
8. Do you listen actively when someone is talking to you?
9. Do you paraphrase or use some other method to clarify what is being said?
10. Do you identify causes of performance problems or look for ways to close skills gaps?
11. Do you work with your team to reach agreement on desired goals?
12. Do you customize your coaching approach depending on the person you are coaching?
13. Do you give specific feedback?
14. Do you give timely feedback?
15. Do you always follow-up on a coaching discussion to make sure progress is proceeding as planned?

When your coaching skills improve, your team improves!

Which of these 15 skills do you need to develop?