The Overview
Here is a brief job aid that provides an overview and the details of the Coaching Process. The job aid covers the three steps, called PDF (Prepare, Discuss, Follow-Up), and also contains a very useful checklist that breaks each step of PDF down to the nitty-gritty.
Here is a podcast that reviews the definition of coaching, when to coach, and the high-level description of PDF.
The following podcast is a deeper dive into PREPARATION. Be sure you reference the Coaching Process Job Aid while listening to it.
The following podcast is a deeper dive into DISCUSSION. Be sure you reference the Coaching Process Job Aid while listening to it.
The good news is that FOLLOW-UP is so easy, we skipped the podcast. Refer to your Coaching Process Job Aid. But, here are a few additional thoughts...
I may FOLLOW-UP a week later. I may FOLLOW-UP two weeks later. We can set that timeline based on the goals that came out of our Game Plan.
The key with FOLLOW-UP is to determine whether the problem that we identified in our preparation is now resolved. If it’s in process, then in our next coaching session we can review the milestones. If it is resolved, then we can move on to something else and coach anew. If it isn’t resolved, we have another conversation to identify what the problem is, and we start PDF over. It’s that simple.
Here is a sample coaching session Matt role played with our friend Emily Marino. Ignore the fact that we used the names Anand and Mary. We were just role playing and this sample in no way should be considered a part of the story being developed in our MISSION section.
Listen to the sample role play. Can you follow along with the Coaching Checklist from the job aid? Matt moves around the checklist. He doesn't apply it linearly since he is focused on making the conversation natural. Did he cover everything? What did he miss? Do you agree with all of his choices?
These are rhetorical questions and are the same questions you should ask yourself every time you engage in a coaching dialogue.
This is an optional piece. The reason it isn't in the Additional Job Aids section is it is really a (hopefully provocative) question about the power dynamics and status relationship between coach and coached. Here is a podcast that raises some issues. You may not agree with the issues raised, you may not like issues raised, or you may completely agree. You also may have no idea, like Matt, how to practically deal with the issues raised.
The Status Challenge when Coaching
If you are interested in having a discussion about this topic, let's use our Job Aid Forum to do so. Here is a direct link to that page.