What's the difference between good coaching and great coaching?

Becoming a great workplace coach – what’s the difference between good coaching and great coaching?

Learning with the experts in workplace coaching

Hear the difference

You can hear the difference between good coaching and great coaching. Especially when you listen to hundreds of coaching recordings. In addition to completing thousands of accreditation assessments. That is the the experience of our very own Brigitte Calvert. So we asked her to share the lessons that stand out.

Learning from the expert

At Open Door we all have the unique opportunity to learn from one of the most experienced practitioners in Australia, our very own Brigitte Calvert. Brigitte suggests there are some clear differences when assessing recordings. Especially between coaching that is ‘competent’ and a ‘not yet competent’. Particularly when considering the International Coach Federation (ICF) Core Competencies.

But not only that, there are some clear differences in terms of how we add value to our clients.

Good coaching happens when you:

Firstly, establish a clear goal for the conversation
Followed by a clear focus on what the coachee wants to talk about
Importantly, build trust and rapport with the coachee
Without a doubt, are non-judgmental
In addition, ask OPEN questions in response to what the coachee is saying
Furthermore, want to help fix the immediate problem using coaching skills
As a result help the client establish good action plans and accountability
For the most part, allow the coachee to find their own answers.

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Two women in an office mimi-thian--VHQ0cw2euA-unsplash

Great coaching happens when you:

Take more time to establish the goal upfront and link the goal to past conversations
Importantly, explore the desired outcome in more depth. Including the importance of the goal and measures of success
Without a doubt, build trust and rapport with a sense of ease and naturalness
Especially ask OPEN questions that respond to the moment and stretch the coachee’s thinking
Furthermore, ask powerful questions with a genuine curiosity
At the same time be unattached to outcome
Use the coachee’s language and consider learning styles
In addition, evoke awareness by creating space for the coachee to explore, discover, find new perspectives and learnings. This will be supported by the coach making observations as necessary
Finally, encourage action plans and accountability that focusses on the what achieving the goal really means to the coachee. Rather than just WHAT they need to DO.

Clearly you are not coaching effectively if you are:

As with everything we are learning, we will see the development over time. Subsequently, not everything we hear, will meet the standards initially. As a consequence, you will be deemed not yet competent in terms of the ICF standards if you are:

Without a doubt telling, mentoring or advising
Furthermore, judging the coachee’s responses or frequently giving your opinion
In addition, using LEADING questions
Similarly asking a lot of CLOSED questions
Alternatively STACKING questions
Or asking questions for more story and out of interest
Not only jumping into the space but also cutting the coachee off as they are talking
Finally, talking a lot, telling stories or monopolising the conversation.

Dedication to practice and continuous improvement

Improving our skills takes dedication to practice. Therefore, we are focussed on continuous improvement over many years. Including: listening to recordings; reviewing our own practice; and getting feedback on our skills.

We cover this in our Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching Program.

Importantly, we include mentoring in our programs to enable this development.

However, it’s not just ‘new’ coaches that need to think about this progression.

Without a doubt, coaches at all levels can benefit from this reflection. Moreover, this reflection will be in terms of how we strive for excellence in our practice. As a result, adding value to our clients.

Who We’ve Worked With…

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Our programs

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WHAT OUR CLIENTS ARE SAYING

Using the ZOOM meeting worked really well including the breakout session. A terrific and engaging course, I enjoyed it immensely.

Helen Innes

I loved it! It gave me everything I was hoping for (confidence, a framework and many lenses to consider) and more!

Sarah Woodcock

It is an excellent program that can be adapted to any area of a workplace. It will assist me with all my communications with other people, delivered by a very passionate facilitator, easy to listen to, flexible and attentive to the class. I am thoroughly energised by what I have learnt so far.

Alexandra Kirk

This is the best program I have ever participated in. The Friday webinars have been great to help me embed the information I have learned. I am really appreciative of everyone that works at Open Door Coaching and the care and effort they put into helping everyone that joins the program.

Amy ShieldsVictoria

My workplace skills and capabilities have taken a very positive turn. Where I would get exhausted or overwhelmed by difficult work relationships, I now am equipped and confident to manage these relationships and use some of the models I have learned to get positive outcomes in our interactions.

Rebecca BlurtonNew South Wales

I thought the online format via ZOOM worked well and for people outside of capital cities, it is a much more affordable and less disruptive way of undertaking the training.

Steven FordNew South Wales

The course has really enhanced and further developed my skillset. What a phenomenal four days for the Zoom face to face part of the course and amazing, quick turnaround on assessment of online modules.

Mike WilliamsonVictoria

I have confidence in my ability to coach others. My skills have grown significantly and I am so much more conscious of not responding to my team with solutions with a great toolkit to support me. This coaching course has changed my behaviour significantly and positively in my life. Where once I loved solving others problems I now love seeing others solve their own problems.

Sarah ProudfordNew South Wales

Great work, this course is amazing and definitely supports me in my goals. I have always wanted to make a difference and found coaching to be more beneficial than mentoring to support an individual to take responsibility for their own development and to move forward in their goals.

Royston DouglasNew South Wales

Since starting the program, my work role has not changed, but I have developed as a leader in my ability to develop myself and others. I developed an ability to detect “below the line” thinking, and to develop narrative to move above the line. My listening and questioning skills have grown, and my ability to detect opportunities for growth in self and others.

James Blagg South Australia

I feel I have the skills to better lead, manage and coach people in the workplace. The communication skills I have learnt have assisted me in my communications and have improved my relationships at work and home. I thought the program was great. It was challenging and a lot of work. But in the end there were real and useful learning outcomes. I really enjoyed this course and got a lot out of it. It provided me the opportunity to grow personally (the most important output) and gave me some very useful coaching skills

Campbell SmithVictoria

I have grown in confidence and started the journey of becoming a coach. The course provided me with some excellent theory and practical components which have worked together well in helping me along the journey. I now have greater confidence and much better listening skills. I’ve learnt what active listening actually means. The higher level of confidence has allowed me to develop my coaching skills at a faster than expected rate.

Gary MottQueensland

My approach to all personal and professional discussions and my confidence has grown with what I have learnt from the program. I truely believe this program has changed my approach to all I do. I believe I have enhanced my communication and how to read and interact with different personalities types, listening with purpose and communicating with intent to learn and grow others.

Trevor SchollVictoria

I can see the benefits and knowledge and skills in coaching and can see its benefits in self coaching, one on one coaching and team coaching as well as in everyday conversations and conflict resolution. The face to face program and online program is excellent. I have completed various vocational and post graduate study courses and this is the best so far. Natalie Ashdown is an inspirational coach and trainer. Her teaching methods are engaging and very effective. Brigitte Calvert always completes assessment reviews speedily and the feedback was excellent and assisted in the learning process.

Amanda BanksACT

I am now comfortable coaching. I see lots of opportunities and I have realised that I have many skills. I have a greater awareness of serving the higher needs of all within my interactions. I am much better at posing appropriate questions to foster internal reflection. I think it is an excellent program.

Belinda BeattyWestern Australia

I’ve learned a lot about myself and how to conduct conversations and am now confident to be able to perform a coaching session and have enjoyed a new sense of learning since commencing the course.

Melissa HennessyACT

The program enabled me to reflect upon and identify HOW I coach. Throughout the assignment work I revisited my other training guides and has reinforced what I already knew, and also refreshed my knowledge of my coach training. I have a greater awareness of the theory and techniques that I use in my coaching practice each day . My coaching is much more effective as I am spending more time on the issues below the surface which is providing greater value and benefit to my clients.

Gaye KuelsenQueensland

I am now confident in holding coaching conversations with people. Not only am I able to set up a coaching business, but also my listening skills have improved immensely. This helps me in my business and my sales calls.

Annelou JansenVictoria

I have new skills to use professionally and personally, particularly regarding active listening, powerful questioning and a range of excellent materials to draw upon and reflect upon.

Tui DavidsonACT

My attitude towards leadership coaching has changed greatly. I used to “teach” leaders how to manage people but now I use coaching to develop leaders’ skills. Whenever staff or managers come to me with a question, problem or issue, instead of giving them the answers, I coach them by asking the “who”, “how” and “what” questions. I have coached staff and managers through performance reviews, career development and employee relations issues.

Xiao YuVictoria

Totally loving using my new coaching skills in the workplace. Staff are delighted with how I am helping them to solve their own problems. Absolutely loved the course! Would recommend it.

Natalie MayNew South Wales

I’ve definitely grown personally as I’ve learnt new communication skills. I’ve started employing those skills in everyday work situations. I’m leading the way for my unit in adopting a coaching culture.

Anthony PalmerVictoria

The way I view things has changed from trying to provide answers to helping people find their own answers. I have improved my listening skills and allow space for other’s answers.

Raymond SevilleQueensland

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