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
- Do you seize learning opportunities and focus on immediate performance problems for your team?
- Do you try to develop a supportive, emotional bond with your team?
- Do you observe your team’s behavior?
- Do you have a process for driving your core values through your team?
- Do you separate observation from judgements or assumptions?
- Do you listen for your signals that your help is needed?
- Do you prepare employees for coaching sessions in advance?
- Do you listen actively when someone is talking to you?
- Do you paraphrase or use some other method to clarify what is being said?
- Do you identify causes of performance problems or look for ways to close skills gaps?
- Do you work with your team to reach agreement on desired goals?
- Do you customize your coaching approach depending on the person you are coaching?
- Do you give specific feedback?
- Do you give timely feedback?
- 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?
