Coaching strong people on your team can become the key to getting their acceptance and support on your promotions, training programs, and developmental activities. Here are three core elements to illustrate how coaching can increase your teams’ buy-in.

Coaching slows down quick judgments. Let’s face it: some strong people will respond with a quick “no” rather than a slow “yes.” They have too much to do and too little time to do it. The result is a self-created tendency to say no to every activity that isn’t already in their agenda or something they didn’t create. While it’s easy to argue, coaching is a better means to let them think through things. Key questions might include:

  • How can you sell the benefits of this incentive to your team?
  • On balance, what do you see as the benefits and cost of supporting this?

Coaching encourages deeper evaluations. Part of any evaluation is the analysis of implementation. If we can see the “how” then the “what” usually doesn’t matter. Can you imagine the first conversations about “Let’s build the Golden Gate Bridge,” or “Build me three ships to sail west until I get to China.” Coaching lets those steps emerge. Key questions might include:

  • What’s the first thing you want to do?
  • What’s the most important thing that you think I need to do to get this off the ground?
  • What else do you have to do to guarantee this is a win?

Coaching sparks creativity. Have you ever heard the expression, “Quick and creative?” My guess is you haven’t until now. We talk about quick and dirty solutions. Creativity takes time. As the leader, this is your opportunity to ask questions that will spark creative solutions. You might ask:

  • What do you need to do to own this?
  • After we finish this program, what do you see happening on the other side?
  • What else do you want to do to make this work?

Coaching is probably not the only thing that has to happen. When confronted with changes, the first reaction of our amygdala is to scream to not do it. Coaching allows the rest of the bran to join the discussion.

What other questions have helped you work with your team?

At Team Connections Pro, we support you in creating, developing, and producing effective teams.  Team Connections Pro is your source for leadership materials.  Recruiting is one of your main jobs, so you’ll find materials like:

  • Cracking the Recruiting Code (video series)
  • Rev Up Recruiting  (video series)
  • 5 Recruiting Secrets (eBook)
  • Recruiting Demystified (eBook)
  • Leadership Coaching: A Productive Recruiting Focus (audio)
  • Ask the Experts, January 2017 (audio)
  • And many more!

You owe it to yourself to not walk past.  Try Team Connections Pro for a month for $47.  If it doesn’t help, leave with no further obligation.