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CONTINUOUS COACHING
As mentioned, coaching is integral to leadership. While coaching sessions
need to be planned in advance, informal coaching can occur at any time or at
any place. Often this is nothing more than giving feedback, positive or nega-
tive. Keep to the rule of opening with a positive and ending with a commit-
ment to improvement. GREAT COMMUNICATION SECRETS OF GREAT LEADERS
One more point: We have emphasized coaching as a leadership behavior,
assuming a leader-to-subordinate direction. Peer coaching is equally valuable.
And so is “upward coaching”—e.g., coaching your boss. Follow the same
process outlined in the action coaching model. The outcome will be increased
trust and improved performance. And whenever you can bring that out in
another person, it’s a leadership action.
COACH AS LEADER
Coaching and leadership go hand in hand. From creating trust through disci-
pline, reward, and mentorship, coaching behaviors exemplify leadership
behaviors; in fact, they are leadership behaviors. All coaching behaviors are
centered around strong organizational goals and work together to reinforce the
coach-individual relationship. In doing so, they create a situation in which the
individual as well as the team can thrive.
Fundamentally, coaches, like leaders, are teachers. They teach by their
words as well as lead by their actions. Harvey Penick and Vince Lombardi
draw life lessons from the task at hand. Through coaching, the individual
acquires job skills, but more important, she or he also gains knowledge about
life itself. It is the life lesson that matters most in a person’s development. It is
an investment in the person’s future to which leader-coaches must continually
strive to contribute.

Communications Planner: Coaching One-to-One

Communications is essential to effective coaching. It is essential that all
good leaders coach their people. The suggestions provided here will help
you use your communications skills to improve coaching.
1. Establish trust. Before you begin coaching, ask the following
questions:
What do you like about this job?
What do you dislike about this job?
What do you see yourself doing in 6 months?
Where would you like to be in 5 years?
How can I help you to achieve your goals?