Coaches Corner 9: Will You Please Just Stop Talking?

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 underdeveloped in many leaders. To improve this skill use the call out method - actually call out what you see. When you notice something verbalize it, write it down or at the very least make a mental note of it. 
• "I notice Shelly fidgets with her hands when we begin to discuss her cost of goods."
• "I'm seeing that Mark's facial expression drops when we begin each meeting."
• "I saw Mary look sideways and then roll her eyes when we began discussing the budget changes that the finance team was proposing."
• Speak Less, Communicate More. We all communicate verbally (the words we use), with our voice (tone, tempo and volume) and with our visual cues (posture, facial expressions, dress and grooming and our physical movement or animation...or lack thereof). Preparing how you will communicate with your voice and the visual rather than just 'what' you say will improve your overall communication. Here are 3 questions to get you started:
• What tone do I need to take when meeting with Daniel today?
• Is what I'm wearing communicating the message I want to get across today? 
• What can I do to position our seating in the meeting to encourage conversation?

 Rather than utilizing your coaching sessions to be a verbal dump or personal ego boost slow down and plan how you can talk less, communication more and increase the results. Will you please just stop talking and start coaching? Coach on!