Coaching, Mentoring and Managing: A Coach Guidebook

Right Thinking About Team Purpose ................................................................

In any leadership setting ... in any workforce ... two points of

view can apply to the primary purpose of the team. One

philosophy says the main goal of the team is to solve problems.

The other approach says the purpose of teamwork is to improve

performance. StaffCoaching™ states throughout that the one goal

of the coach is results.

Which point of view lines up with the StaffCoaching™ Model

and your own actions? Improving performance. As a coach, you

encourage, energize, motivate, guide, and solve problems. You

take actions and plan strategies to be effective. You run the risk of

becoming just a glorified fire extinguisher if your main focus is

problem solving. As well, you might be developing clones, not

freethinkers and innovative team members. You must go beyond

solving problems to improving the performance that may be

causing the problems. StaffCoaching™ is all about taking people

to the next, higher level in their performance.

To illustrate: Fine-tuning your fuel injection won’t necessarily

win the Indy 500. But deciding to win the Indy will require

improved fuel injection. Another example: Teaching your team

conflict-resolution skills won’t increase productivity. But giving

them responsibility for increased productivity will demand

conflict-resolution skills. You need both — but team

accountability is all-important. Optimum results come from a

unified, objective-oriented, growing team.

Summary ............................................................................................................

Integrating a team involves StaffCoaching™ techniques and

the appropriate approach. Like individuals, teams require

coaching, mentoring and counseling. The challenge you face is

one of sheer numbers. Problems multiply when you deal with a

team of people.

As a coach, distinguish between a group and a team. Teams

share a common goal, and that is what gives you the optimum

results you want. Integrating the talents and strengths of your

people into a cohesive team gives them the accountability and the

ability to exponentially expand their impact.

Coaching, Mentoring and Managing

6

“Great minds have

purposes. Others

have wishes.”

—Washington

Irving