Improving my coaching skills

A goal of mine is to become a better coach.  I’ve been reading many books on coaching.  I’ve been through two coaching training programs which offered different skill sets.  Not to long ago, I went through a 360 evaluation of my skills which involved self-testing, interviews of some people I was coaching, and having my coaching sessions evaluated by a professional coach.  All these were invaluable in my learning process.

However, the most important thing that has helped me become a better coach has been the experience of having an ongoing coach in my life.  I just signed up for another year.  Coaching is an art that is learned through through experience.  I find myself so often asking similar questions of those I am coaching, than that my own coach had asked me.

To become more effective as a coach, you almost have to have a coach yourself.  Plus, if you don’t have a coach, you are communicating that coaching is not that important…at least for you.