COACHING

COACHING

There is always a misunderstanding between ‘instructing’ and ‘coaching’. Most people take instructing as coaching. In management, instructing and coaching are two different things. Instructing is more towards asking someone to deliver a task without question whereas coaching needs more supervision and guidance in order to get a job done perfectly.

I always make an analogy when explaining management concepts. Thus a story of an officer who is asked to lift a bull is a good example. He is undecided whether or not to lift the bull. Secondly, if he dose what tool or method will he use. Of course, it is something illogical to ask someone to lift a bull, especially if it weights 200kg. Actually, it is in fact a straight forward decision making process and common sense. Either he is going to lift the bull or not is merely secondary. The first thing he should consider is to make a good decision. This is where people get stuck in most cases. Consequently the decision is not made and normally the assignment is put aside without any action taken.

This is the common scenario at work place where tasks are left unattained as the officer does not know or unsure of how to deal with them. The instruction is already in place but the job is not done. And at the end of the route, the customer will expect something which would never come.

At this juncture, ‘coaching’ is very important to keep an officer on track and show him how to deal with task given in an appropriate manner. This type of personnel needs someone, normally his immediate boss, to coach him on how to make such decision. As in the case of lifting the bull, he has to be guided on ‘how’ to do it. If he does not have adequate tools, then provide him with some. Or he may need some training to equip him with new ideas or ways to carry out such task. The role of his superior is very important to ensure the task given is done accordingly.

We have to understand that not all subordinates know the proper way or the appropriate timing in making a decision. We also know that the worst decision is not making any. A decision whether good or bad, is a must. Thus the role of an immediate superior is critical in guiding the downliners to make decisions. And this can be accomplished through coaching not just instructing.