The Coaches Corner

13,607. That is the number of words in Edward Everett's Gettysburg oration "The Battles of Gettysburg." Everett, considered to be one of the best orators of his time spoke at Gettysburg on Thursday, November 19, 1863 for just over 2 hours. After a musical number then president Abraham Lincoln, in stark contrast stood and spoke only 271 words and solidified one of the most impactful messages in US history.  In roughly two or three minutes Lincoln cut to the point and delivered a message that is still memorized by grade-school children all over the country.  Lincoln's brevity can be a lesson for us in our coaching. Say less, ask more. Talk less, observe more. Speak less, communicate more. Below are a few principles to keep in mind: Say Less, Ask More . Questions are more important than the rambles of the un-organized mind of the coach. When planning your coaching plan your questions first.  Talk Less, Observe More . Observation skills are far too underdev...

Most people never become master coaches simply because they chose to be only part time coaches. Coaching mastery takes time, commitment and practice. Use the following questions to determine if you are a part time coach: You only coach when there is a problem You avoid coaching situations/conversations when you see that the topic could be emotionally difficult and/or awkward at first You take a "wait and see" mindset to your business hoping the current problem will fix itself You fail to practice your approach in one or more of the following situations Praise and reinforcement  Development and teaching Correction and redirection Group facilitation and thought leaderships discussions Practical, executable guidance conversations Performance evaluations Extremely effective coaches take a "full time" approach. They utilize every opportunity to develop others. Essentially great coaches have created a strong habit of coaching. Before you can master co...

One of the oldest sayings I know is "the shortest distance between two points is a straight line." I can think of no better adage for today's coaching topic - be direct. You've heard it and I'm sure have done it far too many times. When coaching you beat around the bush, give confusing and conflicting messages and fail to be direct. Later, you wonder why your coaching was so ineffective. Remember that direct communication in coaching is crucial to ensuring: The person being coached understands where he or she stands What is clearly expected and  What parameters are being measured on the way to success Below are three keys (and a bonus suggestion) to improving your direct coaching: Get right to the point . Don't start the coaching with small talk. "Jane, the purpose of our meeting today is to discuss your current performance that has dropped below standard. You have missed your sales quota for three months at an aggregate of 10%." ...