When I think back over recent years of my own life I can identify times when I have been coaching others but at the time there was no label on it, I was just being me. I’ve always been passionate about seeing others succeed but since I have developed my understanding of coaching I realise sometimes I have been a bit too directive in my approach in the past, hindsight huh!
I am sure it is something that comes with age and experience but I’m not sure when exactly I got old and wise, part of my brain is still convinced I am 21 living for the moment. I know I am not alone in that – the travelling grandma (my mum) proves age is just a number. However, the ability to help people reach their own conclusions on what is right for them is something I wish I’d know how to do sooner!! It’s the most rewarding thing, watching that ‘penny drop’ moment.
The other week I caught myself coaching my friends 7 year old son – one of my many coaching by stealth moments. Nope I’m not kidding it was madness. Poor J was in the garden swinging around a flower necklace, he was catching it on the bin. Instead of telling him to stop the conversation went like this…..
Me: do you think that is a good idea?
J: (looks at me quizzically): ummmmm no
Me: why not bud?
J: I might break it
Me: you might, and then what could happen?
J: I’ll cry cos I can’t wear it
Me: so what have we learnt?
J: I’m going to wear it
To that end, he walked off with a smile like he’d just won the lottery and myself and his mum just looked at each other as if to say “what the Jiminey Cricket just happened there” it had worked!!!
Fact is young or old, lots of life experience or none, everyone can be coached to find their own solutions that work for them, there is no right or wrong………
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