Leadership coaching
Based on your reading of Leadership Coaching chapters 9–12, what role should the client’s agenda and goals play in the coaching process? How do the coach’s listening skills influence successful outcomes?
The clients’ schedule and goals play the role of leading the coaching process. Leadership coaching is regarded as a client-oriented process, whereby the client identifies and discerns the topic or issues that he wants to discuss. Thus, the client’s agenda gives direction to any coaching session and enables clients the coach to identify and understand the problems that the client is undergoing. By letting the client lead, the coach is assured that they are voicing what they believe is best for them. It also allows the coach to understand the expression of faith in the client’s life, whereby the Holy Spirit convicts the individual to speak about the issues affecting them. Thus, it creates the avenue for the coach to guide them on the change process, while at the same time creating a unique case that the coach has never dealt with before. Therefore, the client’s agenda and goals help the client and God to lead the process (Stolzfus, 2005, pp. 114-116).
The coach’s listening skills influence successful outcomes in that they give a listening ear that helps the client make decisions based on their situation (Stolzfus, 2005). This is because coaches listen actively, whereby they seek further clarifications and explanations whenever necessary, thus setting the pace of the conversation. By listening actively, coaches also push the conversation toward action. Active listening allows the clients to unlock their creativity, thus helping them understand what is best for them. It enables the client to think more clearly without the fear of shame or embarrassment. Active listening helps the client to remain focused, thus allowing them to gain greater insight into their challenges. Active listening can also give the clients the clarity towards their agenda, motivate them and also provide them with an action plan that result in successful outcomes. The coaching process is a client-centred that allows and guides clients on the best approaches to solve their dilemmas and to set practical goals.