I’m taking the day off (sort of) to hang out with my new son. I hope you’re OK with that.
Michael Andrew Nichols was born Monday, July 2. If you like details, he was 7 pounds 6 ounces and 19 1/4 inches. Mom and baby are both doing great!
coaching
Coach, Counselor, Mentor, Consultant – Which do you REALLY need?
Every person in the world needs a coach – Everyone! This is the response I received when I asked a senior executive of a billion-dollar company this question – What have you found to be the greatest need in your organization?
Though I highly value coaching – his answer wasn’t what I expected. Maybe I expected him to say improved communication. Possibly, more collaborative teamwork. Or even, more talented team members.
Yet, as I’ve considered his response since our conversation, it makes perfect sense. You see, coaching does facilitate improvements in communication, highly collaborative teamwork, talented and passionate team members, and much more.
I have worked with executive coach Raymond Gleason since 2011. And I highly recommend Building Champions for business and executive coaching and Ministry Coaching International for ministry coaching.
The majority of the content on this blog is concepts I’ve learned through my coaching relationships – with my coach and through coaching others.
So, let’s cut to the chase. If we agree that everyone needs a coach, then what is a coach?
Is a coach a mentor? A friend? A counselor?
When Leaders Need Help
No matter who you are or how successful you’ve been, you’ve most likely discovered that you can’t do everything on your own. We know you’re good! – but you “occasionally” benefit from the assistance of others. Even leaders need help!
In fact, when you think you don’t need help, you are telling others that they don’t matter to you. Do you really believe that?
The truth is – all of us together are smarter than any one of us. And all of us together are smarter than all of us apart.
You get that – and so do I. Which is why we occasionally seek feedback or advice from a colleague, a mentor, a coach, or a friend. And we’re better for it!
BONUS: I’ve created a NEW Guide that will walk you step-by-step through writing your own Personal Life Plan. You can find out how to get a copy of this life-changing tool at the end of this post.
Three Secrets of a Great Teacher
I watched a PGA Tour event recently while working on some projects. Just before the event coverage began I caught the end of The Haney Project. The show features a celebrity who would like to improve their golf game under the direction of professional golf coach, Hank Haney.
Charles Barkley sought to conquer his quirky golf swing in the inaugural season. The show’s second season featured comedian, Ray Romano. In the new season that began this week, Haney’s latest pupil brings a very different set of challenges – Rush Limbaugh “knows” what all his problems are. Much of the airtime was filled with Rush explaining to Hank what he thought needed to be corrected.
What caught my attention was Haney’s remarkable ability to relate to and instruct three very different students. I noted three fundamental principles demonstrated by Haney with all three…