What makes a great coach?

What Makes a Great CoachWe are often asked by potential coaches, “What skills do I need to be a coach?”

Have a look at the qualities below. If you feel you have these qualities or would like to develop them, then you can be pretty sure you’ll make a great coach.

So could you be a great coach?

  • You want to make a difference: coaching has a hugely positive impact on people and coaches are often drawn by their desire to help people reach their potential
  • You are good at active listening: coaching involves listening to all the subtle signs and messages in order to understand what is going on for the coachee
  • You are empathic: being able to see the world from the client’s perspective is very helpful
  • You don’t always need to know the answer: coaching is all about facilitating the client to their own answer. That means coaches don’t always have to be right or no the solution
  • You don’t rush to judgement: coaching requires that you withold your personal judgements and allow the coachee to explore their world and their own values
  • You are curious about people: coaching is all about asking questions so it helps to have a questioning mind
  • You can challenge: Great coaches challenge the coachee in many ways to create clarity, honesty and a focus on the reality
  • You’re observant: a great coach can spot the subtle signs of ambivalence, inconsistency or lack of commitment but equally see the spark of excitement, the “aha” moment or the moment that turns on a coachee’s motivation
  • You are positive: coaching is a process of empowerment which means the coachee needs to be inspired by your belief in them and your own passion for what you do
  • You communicate clearly: communication at many levels underpins coaching and the ability to do this effectively and clearly is vital
  • You are honest: coaching thrives when honesty and integrity is present so coaches must learn the art of open communication free from hidden agendas

These are just some of the qualities that coaches need. As a skill that spans the range of human emotions and action, coaching requires a person determined to learn and grow. Coaching presents the perfect environment for you to draw upon the well of emotional intelligence you’ve developed over your lifetime.

If you think you could be a great coach, why not explore that with us in a FREE seminar or personal consultation.