Know ThySelf
I had a coaching session with one VP of sales today. He had taken the "360 tool and wanted my help in interpreting the feedback. Being a diligent top performer he inquired about the "process" we should follow for our feedback discussion and I couldn't help saying to him" M", I do not have a process for this but lets go through your feedback and considering we are both smart people I am sure we will figure out where we go from there".
The thing about feedback is not to take it too seriously because there are always two sides to a coin and its important to focus on the whole picture vs. just the developmental areas which is really why most people seek feedback.
On dev areas, there is no way one can make changes overnight so I think its important to realize that voluntarily seeking feedback itself is a significant step and internalizing the feedback would be a good second step. This takes some time.
By the end of the discussion, we were able to come up with a positive theme and a developmental theme for him and as I predicted we did come up with a couple of actions he could take to address it. I thought that "M" would never select me as a coach again as I hadnt followed "a process" and I certainly didnt think that I was saying anything to him that was anything remotely similar to the 'last lecture' but to my surprise he wanted to review progress with me every 2 months.. Ah ! these diligent top performers. You just have to love them. That reminds me, I havent taken the 360... Hmmm !
Seriously though, thats the thing about Coaching and to all first time Coaches, go with the flow. If you are smart, you will figure it out and it can be a really positive experience not just for the one being coached but also for you, as a coach.
The thing about feedback is not to take it too seriously because there are always two sides to a coin and its important to focus on the whole picture vs. just the developmental areas which is really why most people seek feedback.
On dev areas, there is no way one can make changes overnight so I think its important to realize that voluntarily seeking feedback itself is a significant step and internalizing the feedback would be a good second step. This takes some time.
By the end of the discussion, we were able to come up with a positive theme and a developmental theme for him and as I predicted we did come up with a couple of actions he could take to address it. I thought that "M" would never select me as a coach again as I hadnt followed "a process" and I certainly didnt think that I was saying anything to him that was anything remotely similar to the 'last lecture' but to my surprise he wanted to review progress with me every 2 months.. Ah ! these diligent top performers. You just have to love them. That reminds me, I havent taken the 360... Hmmm !
Seriously though, thats the thing about Coaching and to all first time Coaches, go with the flow. If you are smart, you will figure it out and it can be a really positive experience not just for the one being coached but also for you, as a coach.
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