I recently spoke at Life Pacific College to a class on the personal development of the leader through coaching. I’ve done a lot of teaching on how to coach, but I think this was the first time I’ve done a focused presentation on how to get the most out of being coached.

It was fascinating to look at the process from the perspective of the person being coached. I reflected on my own experiences of being coached. When was it most transformative? What maximized my development?

What are some of the things that make a difference and allow people to get the most out of coaching?

 

  • Taking the time to reflect honestly on your own life
  • Coming into the sessions prepared
  • Making sure you have people in your life who can call you by your first name and blow whistle when you go out of bounds
  • Taking time to measure what you’re accomplishing
  • Focusing in on just one thing per session
  • Willingness to do the work required