Coaching Defined - "Riding
a Bike"
While coaching is now very common in the corporate world
and familiarity with it within SMEs is rapidly growing,
for non clients and the uninitiated, I thought it would
be useful to make some distinctions between coaching
and other forms of assistance. The descriptions below
are used with kind permission of Michael Stratford *.
Consultant: Studies the mechanics of
riding the bike. He will then administer assessments/instruments
to determine your riding style. Teaches you the laws
of physics, how the bike is propelled, what is necessary
for balance, and laws of motion/propulsion. A consultant
tells you where to sit, where to put your feet and when
to pedal. Gives you a program for you to follow through
on. Then he/she leaves.
Therapist: Discusses the basis for
your fears about riding and the consequences of falling.
Discusses if your parents rode, and why that might be
important. Explains why it is important for your self-esteem
or psyche, for you to learn this and be successful.
Parent: Buys bike for you. May put
on training wheels, and take them off when they think
you are ready. Runs by the bike holding on until you
have balance to continue, and then cheers you on as you
go off riding into the sunset. Occasionally will threaten
to take away riding privileges if you don't comply with
ground rules.
Mentor: Shares with you their experience/expertise
of bike riding. Gives you tips on the most effective
way that they've found to ride. Models the way they think
you should ride, gives you strategies about changing
tires quickly in a race, how to get the most speed for
your effort, what the best bike is to buy and how to
negotiate gravel at the bottom of a hill. Warns you of
the dangers of riding in traffic and tells you how to
avoid them.
Coach: Listens to your desire to try
riding. Asks if you need instructions on how to ride
or how to find out about it. Asks what sort of bike you
want. May even help you pick the bike up to get on. Runs
along side the bike "checking in" to see if
you're enjoying the experience and asks what might make
it more fun. Helps you discover what you need to take
care of yourself when/if you fall. When you stop, the
coach asks about your experience, what was valuable and
if you want to master bike riding. If you do, the coach
helps you devise your own plan whereby you can attain
that mastery. If you don't, then the coach may help you
devise a plan to sell the bike.
* Copyright 2003 Center for Creative Development and
Michael Stratford. All rights reserved.
If you would like to find out more about coaching/mentoring
and whether it’s right for you, call 0845 658 0940
or e-mail consultation@coachforsuccess.biz to
arrange a no obligation, 30 minute consultation call.
Link
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