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David Brumpton makes the case for coaches to do it again, but this time with more feeling
To paraphrase the 18th century French philosopher Denis Diderot, "Only passion, great passion, can elevate coaching to achieve great things". That is my daily reality - for coaching without passion is the Olympics without athletes.
Forgive me for making a sporting analogy, but in September we witnessed what has been described as the best Olympics of all time. They certainly evoked passion. Passion that energised the participants, the crowd, the officials and - behind the scenes - the coaches.
But, you might say, sports coaching is not the same as coaching in business and commerce. Well take away the passion and it certainly isn’t!
Yet isn’t it about time that we took the sports analogy seriously? We know and appreciate the value of coaching in sport, both with individuals and teams. We know that coaches value those they are coaching and seek to optimise their performance and ultimate achievement. Why should it be any different in business and commerce?
Would it not be healthy for all CEOs to look at their respective organisations as through the eyes of a team coach? To have a passion for the development of their people, and what’s more to enjoy being part of it.
Would it not be healthy for all managers, team leaders and all those who have a responsibility for others to look as through the eyes of a team coach? Just think of what might be seen and understood with much more clarity - maybe for the first time appreciating both the emotional and physical wellbeing of the team, seeing the true potential in others and then assisting the process by which they achieve it.
Imagine giving hope, purpose and direction to others, not through telling, but by asking timely questions and guiding their journey of self-discovery - by focusing on positive outcomes rather than problems, by asking the refreshing question of "How?", rather than the punitive "Why?", by recognising that there is no such thing as failure, only results and subsequent learning through feedback. By encouraging possibility thinking rather than necessity thinking.
And here’s the pay-back. To know that you have been part of someone else’s journey of self-discovery will give the greatest fulfilment anyone can experience.
This story illustrates the value of coaching: A farmer in South Africa became thoroughly despondent a
