The Coaching Role: Inspiring and Motivating
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together, learning about each other and how you can rely
on each other.- Clarifying and verifying
Before any job, just as before every game, you “clarify”
expectations for your team by reviewing the desired
outcome, what’s expected, the game plan. This includes
letting them know how you keep score. Measurements are
a part of clarification as well as instruments for motivation
and accomplishment. It’s a form of “no secrets, no
surprises” style of management. You “verify” the team’s
understanding by asking each team member to explain his
special assignment(s) during specific tasks, like game
situations. Speaking doesn’t guarantee that they get it. Test
their understanding of what they think are the results and
restrictions. Clarify the goals and objectives to verify that
they understand. - Affirming and acknowledging
You observe the performance of your people. You
acknowledge team members, giving them special
reminders, warnings, encouragement and praise. You
acknowledge the team by your visible, vocal, and tactical
involvement and support. Credible affirmation relies on
your knowledge of your people. The question isn’t
whether or not they want recognition; it’s how they prefer
to be recognized. Effective coaching underlines every
excellent behavior and notes each step forward — so that
it gets repeated. In order to make sure your people listen
to you and really hear you, affirm them individually. - Motivating and inspiring
In sports, when a time-out is called just before the tie-
breaking point is played, the coach reminds team members
what is at stake ... what rewards await the individuals
who make the winning team effort. As a manager, you
challenge team members with the memory of past
victories, with examples of what they accomplished. You
enthuse, you excite, you encourage — so they believe they
can do it. Motivating and inspiring are about them, not
you. It’s about instilling the confidence and energy that