1. Good coaches are encouraging
A good coach understands the importance of encouragement.
When you face a difficult situation, a good coach should get you back on track with support and encouragement.
However, there is a fine line between encouragement and pressure.
If a coach gets too eager, it can have the opposite effect.
This can just result in you feeling like you are being pushed further than you have capacity for.
A good coach must therefore be able to read your signals and be careful not to push too hard.
2. Good coaches ask questions
A good coach helps you find answers to the questions you have.
Ultimately, the goal is for you to find the solution to your challenge.
The coach can achieve this by asking probing questions and showing interest and empathy.
A good coach is precisely driven by curiosity rather than judgmental behaviour.
3. Good coaches see situations from several perspectives
A good coach is able to help you look at situations from more than one perspective.
This is particularly important in problem solving, brainstorming, and decision making. In order to make a well-argued decision, it is important to see several sides of the same issue.
4. Good coaches can prioritize
A good coach can help you identify which sub-goals should be prioritized. You don't get very far by focusing on everything. It is important to decide which tasks need to be taken care of first in order to move forward.
5. Good coaches see opportunities
A good coach can also help you see opportunities where you couldn't see them before.
A good coach has a strong vision for the future and helps you realize your goal by identifying opportunities as they come.
6. Good coaches are leaders - not authoritarian
A good coach never loses focus on the role of teacher.
They share their expertise and experience so you can better meet your personal goals.
Coaches will inevitably guide with a certain authority, but they must be careful not to be too authoritarian.
They must share and explain their ideas, not dictate and insist on them. Ultimately, the relationship between you and your coach must be balanced. A coach is an external interlocutor who can provide sparring and help you see new angles on your challenges.
