Coaching for Breakthrough Success

1. Believe in the Greatness Within Everyone

Man was designed for accomplishment, engineered for success, and endowed with the seeds of greatness.

Unconditional belief. At the core of effective coaching lies an unwavering belief in the inherent potential of every individual. This belief acts as a catalyst, inspiring clients to tap into their unique gifts and strive for excellence. It's about seeing beyond current performance and recognizing the magnificent potential within.

Talent lifter. Believing in human potential acts as a talent lifter, not only for the coach but also for the client. When a coach genuinely believes in a client's ability to succeed, it inspires the client to accomplish more. This belief also extends to the coach's self-belief, enhancing their motivation and effectiveness.

Positive expectations. To achieve good results, one must first believe that their goals are attainable. This belief fuels positive actions and cultivates a mindset of success. It's about fostering a habit of mind where confidence becomes a virtue, driving both the coach and the client toward extraordinary achievements.

2. Fulfillment Arises from Serving Others

Where your talent and the needs of the world cross, your calling can be found.

Coaching as a calling. Great coaches view their role as more than just a job; it's a calling to use their talents for a greater good. This sense of purpose keeps their work from becoming selfish and addresses the deep desire to make a significant contribution to the world.

Adding value. Coaches add value by helping people achieve goals, overcome problems, learn and develop, install new beliefs and habits, and experience fulfillment in their work and lives. This contribution creates a lasting sense of joy and satisfaction, knowing that their efforts have made a positive impact on others.

Intrinsic rewards. True fulfillment comes from within, through acknowledgment, acceptance, and affection, rather than from money or material gain. It's about aligning one's vocation with their life purpose, deriving the greatest satisfaction and happiness from making a meaningful contribution to a cause that positively impacts the lives of others.

3. Empower Others to Lead Themselves

At the center of your being you have the answer; you know who you are, you know what you want and you know what you need to do.

Self-leadership. Effective coaching empowers individuals to lead themselves, fostering independence and ownership of their choices and actions. This approach emphasizes the importance of self-leadership, the ability and willingness to take initiative and be proactive in making things happen.

Nondirective approach. Coaches use a nondirective approach, asking questions and listening to draw out solutions from within their clients, rather than providing answers. This empowers clients to take responsibility for their outcomes, fostering a sense of ownership and increasing their motivation and creativity.

Empowerment vs. over-management. Over-management can hinder empowerment, leading to dependence and a lack of autonomy. By relinquishing control and allowing clients to make their own decisions, coaches enable them to develop self-leadership skills and achieve better results.

4. Influence, Don't Command

Use positive influence to energize people so that they collaborate with you because they want to, not because they have to.

Relational influence. Effective coaching relies on relational influence rather than positional authority. This means collaborating with clients, inspiring them to make decisions and take action willingly, rather than instructing them what to do.

Servant leadership. A servant coach works with people as a collaborative partner, setting a good example by serving them from the heart. This approach involves being humble, giving up any impulse to be superior, and guiding clients to find their own solutions.

Motivation from within. By applying positive relational influence, coaches motivate clients to put in more effort and achieve results willingly. This approach fosters a sense of ownership and commitment, leading to greater success and satisfaction.

5. Embrace Challenges with Flexibility

Problems are to the mind what exercise is to the muscles, they toughen and make us strong.

Challenges as opportunities. Effective coaches approach challenges as opportunities to learn and grow, both for themselves and their clients. This mindset fosters resilience and the determination to overcome obstacles.

Flexible approach. Coaching requires a flexible approach, adapting to the unique needs and circumstances of each client. What worked yesterday may not work today, so coaches must be spontaneous and agile in their responses.

Creating challenges. Coaches should ensure that their assignments pose strong enough challenges to stretch their clients and bring out their best. This strengthens clients and inspires them to grow and become more masterful.

6. Growing Others Enriches Yourself

When we push others down, we can’t help but push ourselves down. When we bring others up, we can’t help but bring ourselves up.

Boomerang principle. Helping others ultimately helps ourselves. The fulfillment that comes from serving others is intrinsically rewarding, surpassing any financial gain.

Coaching competencies. In the process of coaching, coaches develop valuable skills and competencies that benefit them in many aspects of their professional and personal lives. These include leadership, communication, listening, and problem-solving skills.

Multiplier effect. When leaders effectively coach others, they grow their people, which in turn brings the organization to a higher level of success. This creates a culture of coaching and leadership excellence throughout the whole organization.

7. Even Coaches Need Coaches

To be a great coach, you yourself need to be humble and coachable.

Continuous learning. The path to coaching greatness is a continuous journey of learning and development. To become more successful, coaches need to humble themselves and learn from other coaches.

Overcoming barriers. Pride, complacency, and a lack of commitment can prevent coaches from receiving coaching. Overcoming these barriers requires a conscious choice to constantly build new habits and take action to keep learning.

Modeling effective behavior. Coaches teach best by example, not by instructing. By undergoing coaching themselves, they demonstrate the value of the process and inspire others to seek coaching as well.

8. Build Relationships on Authentic Rapport and Trust

All things being equal, people will work with people they like. All things not being equal, they still will.

Authentic connection. A successful coaching relationship is built on a foundation of authentic rapport, connection, and openness. This involves finding common ground, establishing a physical, mental, and emotional connection, and building a climate of mutual trust and respect.

Rapport-building techniques. Coaches can build rapport by pacing and matching the other person's body posture, rate of speech, words, phrases, mood, and feelings. This creates a sense of similarity and understanding.

Humor and likeability. The good use of humor can break the ice, strengthen the bond, and create a warm atmosphere. A well-developed sense of humor can generate hope and optimism, improve overall mood states, and bring a sense of connection and shared experience.

9. Care and Sincerity Touch Hearts

Too often, we underestimate the power of a touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life around.

Sincere concern. To engage and influence people, coaches must touch their hearts with care and sincerity. This involves an authentic desire for their well-being, a genuine concern for their happiness, and a true feeling of openness and understanding.

Unconditional support. Care and sincerity should be unconditional, offered even when the client does not deliver or measure up to expectations. Coaches must leave their agenda at the door and focus on the client's growth.

Demonstrating care. Coaches can show caring by establishing an open and trusting relationship, being a good listener, asking helpful questions, providing useful feedback, offering continuous support, and acknowledging progress.

10. Curiosity and Questions Unlock Potential

I have no special talents. I am only passionately curious.

Curiosity as a driver. Curiosity nurtures the drive to explore and discover better ways of being and acting, benefiting both the coach and the client. It stems from knowing that you do not know and wanting to know because you know that something is worth knowing.

Asking empowering questions. Coaches use effective questions to draw out solutions that lie within their clients. These questions raise self-esteem, reflect interest in strengths and passions, and empower clients to take ownership of their solutions.

Creating buy-in. By giving people the freedom to make their own decisions and helping them to find out what they really want, coaches create buy-in and increase motivation to take action. This approach leads to better results and a stronger sense of ownership.

11. Listening and Intuition Reveal Solutions

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.

Listening over telling. Coaching is not about telling people what to do but about helping them discover the answers for themselves. Effective listening is an active process that requires intellectual and emotional engagement.

Being present. To truly listen, coaches must be present, giving their undivided attention to the client. This means removing distractions, turning off the inner dialogue, and focusing on the client's words and emotions.

Deep listening and intuition. Coaches use deep listening, observation, and intuition to make sense of crucial information and guide clients toward new insights. This involves listening for patterns, observing body language, and trusting one's gut feeling.

12. Feedback and Awareness Drive Transformation

Feedback is the Breakfast of Champions.

Feedback as a gift. Feedback, when delivered with the right intent, can improve performance and drive transformation. Coaches must provide honest and direct feedback while maintaining a caring and supportive attitude.

Creating awareness. Coaches help clients become aware of what is limiting their progress and happiness. This involves asking powerful questions, listening effectively, and offering valuable feedback to create new insights.

Practicing integrity. Coaches must practice integrity and build trust by being transparent, doing what they have agreed to do, and maintaining confidentiality. This creates a safe and open environment for honest disclosure and growth.

Last updated: February 11, 2025