Using Your Coach Training Skills with Colleagues

Often meetings with colleagues have an added element: we want them to complete something without having the authority to enforce their follow-through.  Coach training provides skills that are applicable.  This blog follows the format of the previous examples.

To simplify the example, C is the person who completed the coach training.  P is the person with whom they are talking.

The scenario: colleagues are meeting.  One colleague, C, wants another colleague, P, who is behind schedule, to follow-through with their area of work.

C: How are you?
P: Fine.

C: Good to hear.  What is your status?
P: I told you, we are stuck because we cannot get the parts.

C: Makes sense.  What are the options?
P: Wait until the parts come in.

C: Makes sense.  What else is possible?
P: Putting pressure on the vendor.

C: OK.  What else?
P: Check with another department to see if they have extras we can have and when ours come in they will be replaced.

C: OK.  What else?
P: Ask the boss for an extension.

C: OK.  What else?
P: That‘s it.

C: OK.  Which approach do you want to use first?
P: Check with the other department.

C: Then which idea is second?
P: Call the vendor and explain the problem.

C: OK.  And then?
P: Talk to the boss.

C: Makes sense.  How can I best support you?
P: Well, actually, if you go with me to the other department that will help.

C: Absolutely.  When do you want to go?
P: Let’s walk over there right now.

C: Perfect.  Thank you.
P: Glad we are working together on this thank you.

By accepting responses and asking for options, P applied coaching skills and moved the project forward.  Graduates of coach training will recognize the questions and the words used.  Coaching is a powerful process because it is a positive and proactive way to empower others.