Series - Utilizing Coaching Skills to Become a Better Leader – Part 10 Sharing Insights and Information

Contrary to common beliefs coaches are not advice-givers.  Coaches trust that all answers to a client’s problem lie within the client.  Even though I may have experienced similar situations in the workplace to my clients, I cannot assume that my solutions or advice will have the desired outcome for my client.  During a typical coaching call, I will mostly ask empowering questions (see part 9 of this series Asking Empowering Questions ).  There are rare occasions when I exchange my coaching hat with my consultant hat and share my insights with a client.  

In this tenth and final article in the series “Utilizing coaching skills to become a better leader” I will cover how you can effectively share your insights with your teams to reach your goals.  

Wilson Milzner once said, “To profit from good advice requires more wisdom than to give it”, indicating that advice from others is seldom welcomed or followed.  If you don’t want your advice to fall on deaf ears, I suggest that you ask others for permission to share your own experiences and insight and give them a choice. This not only allows them to be more open to your ideas, but it also shows that you know that your thoughts are not the only way forward. 

Framing how you share information can also impact how others receive it. Here are a few examples suggested by iPEC (the Institute for Professional Excellence in Coaching) on how to best share information:

• The latest research says…
• I once heard…
• Most of my clients…
• Many people in your situation…

And my favorite:

• Let me share a story with you…

After you provide the information, ask them how what you just shared resonated with them and how it might apply to their situation.  Be authentic and relatable when sharing information so that others do not feel like they are being lectured.  Try to keep the energy light and maybe even use humor to get your point across. 

I suggest imparting your own insights and sharing information wisely and sparingly, otherwise, you might be seen as a know-it-all, and nobody likes those.  Great leaders and coaches alike trust that every person has the answer to their problem inside of them and they know how to guide others mindfully to the solution.  

If you are interested in exploring coaching for yourself to become a better leader, contact me at angela@belladonnacareercoach.com and ask me about my signature program called SOAR.  SOAR (the acronym stands for the four phases of the program SEEK, OUTLINE, AWAKE, and RELEARN) helps professionals like you to transform mindfully and with ease so you can SOAR in all areas of your life.  Are you ready to SOAR?