Early in my consulting career I hired my own coach.
The gentleman was low cost, had skills, and helped me refine my new business direction.
A few years later I hired the “real deal” coach—it was a much bigger investment, and helped me build my skills and scale my business to what it is today.
Who’s my next coach?
It’s been a while since I worked with such a great coach, until this weekend.
At the racetrack here in New Orleans I hired my first “real deal” driver development coach.
He and I are similar, and his coaching techniques really resonated
They may also resonate with you, as you coach up your own team.
SIX USEFUL COACHING TECHNIQUES
1. Prepare and Review:
We prepared before we went on track, and we reviewed my performance afterwards.
So much coaching and learning happened off the track.
The same way sales coaching would happen before and after a sales call.
(By this definition, how much coaching are you really doing?)
2. Repeat the basics:
We worked on the basics (again and again!) in order to implement them in a profound way.
This was not a beginner’s class, but a masterclass on how to use the basics to excel as a top performer.
We went deep into the “why” and discussed “how” the techniques would support me in the quest for balance, position and speed.
(Is your team performing the basics as well as you need?)
3. Slow down:
He slowed things down for me, so that I could speed up.
We varied our speed, and sometimes worked at 9/10 pace (meaning not full speed) so I could implement the new ideas
By going a bit slower it allowed us an overall faster time.
A recent run with my coach at the famous Barber motorcycle track in Birmingham.
4. Push Patiently:
He was calm and patient, but pushed and prodded me at every opportunity.
What a surprising combination of traits that every leader could emulate.
A good coach is not frantic or frenetic. We guide you in a measured way that makes the big changes easy.
5. Make it About Results:
He never made it about me personally, but about what I could do to implement the technique and achieve the results.
This allowed me to open myself up to learn even more.
6. Show Excitement:
He became animated when I started sliding out my car’s back end–it’s called drifting,
We discussed good drifting vs bad drifting techniques. He explained when to do it purposefully for my advantage. That’s when light bulbs went off.
I’ll add: His excitement was contagious.
(Are you lighting the fire for your team?)
Your Challenge: Reignite your own learning, Become a student again.
I had an realization recently.
Not only do I have a business coach, but I now have a guide/teacher for each of my 3 favorite hobbies.
Go big or stay home!
All ambitious athletes use a coach. They just do. Never a doubt.
It’s the same in business.
Coaches help to develop your edge, define your strategies, and maintain your advantage.
Good-to-great is not a journey you achieve by working in a vacuum.
Regards, Jeffrey Scott!
P.S. I love coaching. I personally take on only a handful of new coaching clients each year. To learn more go here.
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