The research behind development of The Extraordinary Coach included looking at best practices in helping professions such as counseling, clinical psychology, and social work. Two practical lessons that apply to coaching effectiveness were focusing on topics of importance and interest to the coachee and asking for feedback at the end of a coaching conversation.
When counselors asked for feedback on the effectiveness of their helping sessions, attrition rates were cut in half and effectiveness increased by 65%.
There are four key reasons to focus on the coachee’s agenda and ask for feedback:
- Asking for input significantly changes the nature of the relationship from parent-child to adults talking with each other.
- Being asked for input changes the coachee’s feelings of being in control and having power.
- The feedback changes the coach’s behavior.
- Being asked for input changes the coachee’s attitude toward and ratings of the coach’s effectiveness.
Click on Asking for Feedback on Coaching Effectiveness to view a short video clip of me explaining some of this research and key points. I also show an example of a simple tool that can help coach’s get immediate coachee feedback on the effectiveness of the coaching conversation.
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