Unit 6 Active Listening Skills

Coaches need to have certain skills and knowledge to undertake the role. In my opinion a coach needs to be patient, supportive, interested, aware of others as well as self, attentive and perceptive. Such elements underpin effective coaching and a genuine interest in the person being coached.

Interview Coaching: They believe that it is helpful for the students to experience the interviewing process. This helps build their confidence so they would be able to

Coaching is a useful way to develop people’s skills and abilities, and of boosting performance. It can also help deal with issues and challenges before they become major problems. Coaching typically begins with a personal interview with the employee to assess the situation, review current opportunities and challenges. After the interview, priorities for action are established along with specific desired outcomes. Individuals may also be asked to complete specific action items in a certain period of time that support the achievement of desired goals. Resources may also be provided such as articles, checklists and assessments.

Finally, I would use all these examples of coaching in my own coaching. The thing that means the most to me in coaching is this: 1) Be me, listen thoroughly without interruption or daydreaming. 2) Master the art of critical thinking questions that help guide the client to look inwardly to discover the answer that is right for them, not me. 3) Empower them with positive reinforcement. 4) Love them like Jesus

It is apparent that coaching has an enormous role in sustaining and creating well built workplaces and great organizations. Coaching is the process of assisting people develop their ability to think about things such as people, relationships, problems and their future. It is obvious that coaching helps people get through issues. Coaching helps people concentrate on the things they struggle on. Coaching helps them overcome those issues.

One definition of coaching is “Coaching is unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance.” (Coaching for performance, Sir John Whitmore 1992). Or to expand on this; Simply defined, coaching is one person guiding another through a process, leading to performance enhancement. The applications can vary, support to achieve a specific project, helping an individual to do better what they already do well, or developing a skill they don't yet possess.

There are a number of definitions to what coaching is; I feel that I can personally relate to the following definition:

Coaching as best described by Sir John Whitmore is "unlocking a person’s potential to maximize their own performance. It is helping them learn rather than teaching them." Coaching is a relationship, usually found in the workplace, focused more on task and performance. A coach would likely set goals for the learner and evaluate performance upon completion of a task or at the end of a period. Coaches are usually assigned. John C. Crosby says, “Mentoring is a brain to pick, an ear to listen, and a push in the right direction.” A mentor is a more experienced person that is willing to share knowledge with a mentee in a trusted relationship. Mentorship influences personal development as a whole and his or her career. This relationship does not have to be a formal one; mentors can be beneficial from a distance. Mentors are usually self-chosen. As human nature dictates, we all have to be motivated or see the potential benefits of the things we do. Will taking this course of action make us happier, place us in a better financial position, or get you that promotion? Both mentoring and coaching can benefit individuals in progressing successfully in their careers. Using coaching can increase productivity, build self-confidence, improve skills, and ensure satisfaction of clients. There is a saying in the Bahamas, “fisherman don’t call his fish stink.” Essentially, it means that we often are not aware of or willing to acknowledge our downfalls and deficiencies. In a coaching relationship,

Coaching is the art of facilitating another person’s learning, development and performance. Through coaching people are able to find their own solutions, develop their own skills and change their own behaviors and attitudes.

Coaching is an outline for accomplishing work objectives and achieving career aspirations and it creates an understanding of important issues. This allows the mentees to widen their perspectives and also enhance their ability to manage their tasks. For the mentors they will be able to pass on their knowledge and views.

Coaching can be used to create "a strong, vibrant workplace where managers engage both the hearts and the minds of individuals and teams in using all of their talents to contribute to high performance results" (Wright, n.d., p.1). There are several expert suggestions for improving coaching skills as well as the success for an organization. Wright (n.d.) suggests several strategies including listening, silence, and unconditional positive regard to become a better coach (HBS Press, 2006, p.3).

Coaching is generally link to high emotional intelligence, coaches should be good at understanding and relating to people as they are interested in people. Coaching is also about showing empathy and relationship building. Coaches/ managers should be able to transfer their knowledge and skills to their subordinates. Imagine how inefficient it would be if the manager or coach is not able to relay correct instructions or knowhow to his staff in order to perform the job. A communication

I see active listening employed when I speak to my supervisor when I have a frustrating client or am working with someone who is being difficult she listens, gets all the information then offers the best solution she can. Also the secretaries at work receive all of the calls for the office I work at and they have to listen when someone needs help and isn’t sure what to do. They have to listen, gather all of the information and make sure they give the person the right information. 4.

What is coaching? Coaching is a powerful tool that can help you to make changes in your business or career, improve your performance, enhance your relationships with others or develop specific skills. (http://www.personal-coaching-information.com/what-is-coaching.html). Also it can be defined as “… unlocking a person’s potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them learn rather than teaching them" (Whitmore, J, 2009)

Listening is more complex, and it encourages one to analyze and think about an idea, rather than to simply accept it (or “hear” it). Hearing is a skill that is beneficial for every aspect of life. As long as we have our ability to hear, we will always perceive different sounds, music, and voices. Listening, however, is beneficial to us in specific instances. It is important for us to attain good listening skills in education, the work force, and in our relationships with others in order to succeed. Good listening in education will bring about confident participation in class discussions; good listening in the workplace will lead to cooperation and good teamwork among colleagues; good listening in relationships is healthy and positive, for it is important to hear what an individual has to say in order to know how they feel.