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In the world of coaching, there is alot of confusion around what coaching actually is.

I hear from many coaches who say they do coaching, but in reality, they are doing a form of training.

Here is the distinction:

Coaching draws out information. 

Training transfers information.

To do effective coaching, the first thing you need is an actual process that measures attitude, behaviour, and results. Without that, you are just having conversations.

Training, on the other hand, can absolutely produce learning and growth, but the delivery is different. It involves workshops, teaching, and application, with less focus on the development of attitude.

I believe the key to awakening God-given potential is leadership development, not leadership training. 

That is why I have often declined requests for leadership training and redirected those conversations toward leadership development instead.

One impactful tip for becoming abetter coach.

Listen to the story that is not being said.

When I do leadership development coaching, I am not just listening to the words. I am reading body language and tone of voice to hear what is underneath the surface.

Here is an example. 

When someone is sharing a story and there is a sudden shift in the intensity of their tone on a specific word, I know there is an emotional charge behind it. That word becomes a clue for my next question.

Say you are sharing a story about one of your siblings, and then you shift to talking about the house you grew up in.And when you say the word “house,” your voice rises. I would follow up with: “Tell me more about the house.”

That one cue can open an entirely different conversation, and often, that is where the real coaching begins.

BLG means Growth