Posted on: Monday, July 15, 2002

60 SECONDS ON BUSINESS
Good coach critical to create success

By Dr. Drake Beil
President, Solutions Inc.

Have you ever had a great coach, teacher or manager? Think about what made him or her so great in your eyes. Coaching is a critical leadership skill for all members of a high-performance team.

According to Webster, a coach is one who "trains intensively by instruction, demonstration, and practice." Based on this definition, a coach is an educator first, probably a practitioner, and certainly an evaluator. Becoming a coach can be the most time-consuming, most frustrating, and potentially the most rewarding activity possible.

If your team is to develop, the faster they can learn the better. The better they can coach one another effectively, the more self-directed they can become, and the more productive their combined problem-solving capabilities.

Coaches create success with two primary tools. They direct and support. Coaches should provide a high level of direction to the team members (like new employees) as early as possible, through the development of the job skills necessary for success.

A coach also shapes the team by the management of consequences. Both positive and negative consequences should be considered and planned for because people tend to do more of what they are rewarded for, and less of what will be punished.

Reach Dr. Drake Beil at drake@60secondsonbusiness.