Coaching simply means making people 'get into actions'

Life skill sessions

Five frogs are sitting on a log.
Four decide to jump off. How many are left? 
Answer: five. Why? Because there's a difference between deciding and doing.
Mark L. Feldman & Michael F. Spratt, 'Five Frogs on a Log'



coaching simply means helping people to 'get into actions'


Session 1, July 15, 2012, 10.15 Hrs.

"It was a monsoon morning and was so pleasant, going for a long ride with you always a pleasure. Spending time with you always takes me to a new world, new excitement and I feel empowered with great satisfaction." Chay, an intermediate student shared with his dad, how he felt about the 'two hour' productive drive on NH 9.

The conversation:

Chay's Dad: "Hi Chay, how are things at college?"

Chay: "Fine dad, I am enjoying, faculties are good, I like our English faculty, he is very humorous, I never feel bore in his sessions", Chay started sharing about his faculties in the college, "Our chemistry faculty gives lot of notes than the explanation of the subject, our physics faculty is exceptional, he has great knowledge in the subject and takes the sessions without referring the books, we wonder how he manages, and at times, we crosscheck the text book to find whether subject explained in the sessions was right and end up appreciating him."

D: "That's great", I encouraged, "Are you facing any challenges in any of the subjects?"

C:  "Yes dad, I am getting less score in 'trigonometry', I feel that, I should work hard to get good score."

D: "Is there any difficulty in understanding the subject?"

C:  "No, it's not that, I am able to understand the subject, it's only because, when I am in the process of solving any problem in trigonometry, if stuck, I would feel to leave the problem aside and eventually loose focus. That would always result in my less scoring."

D: "Hmm, what I hear is, you are understanding the subject but loosing focus while working on that, is that right?"

C:  "Yes."

D: "That means, you believe that, you have the capacity to understand the subject but unable to focus. What are the causes for not having focus on the subject?"

C:  (After a minute) "I have been always struggling with this challenge of loosing focus when it comes to solving problems in trigonometry since my SSC, I don't know how to increase the focus in this area."

D: "Do you think, is it a challenge for you?"

C:  "Of course, it's challenge for me and it's important for me as it's one of my goals to accomplish."

D: "How important that as a goal for you?"

C:  "I want to be happy, good grades always makes mom happy about me and she would also encourages me for my cricket coaching. Altogether, I would be having peace - of - mind."

C: "What will happen if you have peace - of - mind?"

C:  "I will have more focus on my cricket practice and will be successful too in my passion as you know my passion is to become a good cricketer."

D: "That's great, I see that, you are a responsible kid and you want to improve your focus on trigonometry. Here I have something to ask you, have you ever had any challenge apart from this, if so, can you explain?"

C:  "Yes, I have had a challenge which I dealt in my cricket practice."

D: "What's that?"

C:  "I normally used to take leg stump while I am in batting, often I used to move to the off stump without my knowledge, as I was poor in handling the balls which were bowled on leg stump and would always lead to loosing my wicket. Over the period I dealt with that challenge with the help of my coach."

D: "How did you deal with that challenge?"

C:  "Initially it was frustrating and I have decided to deal with by consulting the coach, however my coach knew this and warned me to take care of this issue, which I was not focusing. Later I have decided to focus on this. I requested my coach to put me in nets for couple of weeks and would allow me to improve in facing the balls which continuously bowled on leg stump. After a week I have seen that, there was some improvement in that area. Over the period, as I was facing this challenge with more focus, I have improved a lot and now there is no problem in facing the balls bowled on leg stump, even my coach appreciated me for this improvement."

D: "What did you learn from this experience as you addressed the challenge which you faced in cricket?"

C:  (After a quick pause) "There are two things I want to share with you, first is I have faced that challenge with no fear, second thing, I have taken extra mile to overcome that challenge."

D: "Great! Now look at this phenomena, considering these two points which you discovered, do you think you can apply the same method in dealing with your 'trigonometry' issue? If so, how would you do that?"

C:  "Yes, I feel that, this is something great, I never thought of applying this method in dealing with my subject. I would apply with the issue of 'trigonometry' by FACING IT WITH MORE FOCUS and TAKING EXTRA TIME, means using more time for practicing."

D: "That would be a great Idea, How do you feel about it?"

Chandu:  "I feel, its great, now I can see that, this is quite possible for me. Now I have learnt, IF I HAVE A CHALLENGE, I WOULD OVERCOME IT ONLY WHEN I FACE IT."

D: "That's great."

C: "Thank you dad."

Conclusion:

Above conversation gives a glimpse on 'how to coach individuals'. The approach seems to be one of the best models in coaching, it's 'GROW' model and it is one of the incredible workable tools one can adapt while coaching people.