By James Santagata
Principal Consultant, Career OverDrive!
In a previous post I've discussed some of the different categories or flavors of coaching styles and coaches.
Specifically I talked about:
1. The Peddlers of Hope and Passion (Hope Peddlers & Passion Peddlers).
2. The Peddlers of Fortune Cookie Inspiration.
Now, as I've said before all of these styles or flavors of coaching and coaches have their place and value depending on each client's needs and situation.
However, at some point, getting into a nuts and bolts discuss of (1) why you are here (current/present situation)and (2) how to get you from here to there, becomes extremely important, at least to most clients.
Beyond, hope, passion and inspiration there are the nuts and bolts of coaching and specific action for a client to take. But even here there are huge variations in the type of coach and the effectiveness of the coach's advice.
For instance, has the coach identified the correct or proper nuts and bolts? The proper tensile strength, the composition of metals, the number and the placement of the nuts and bolts?
One of the shortcomings I see in what most coaches offer today is that even when the nuts and bolts are offered and discussed, what is offered is very vague and generalized.
Worse, sometimes what's offered is just plain wrong.
A simple example to illustrate this would be telling a client to "eat a balanced meal".
Beyond these vague nuts and bolts, I've noticed very vague advise that parallel's what's known in the automotive repair space as "R&R" or Remove and Replace.
Basically, it's shorthand method to cut through a lot of detailed steps in the automotive repair process and focus only on the procedures with a few caveats or warnings pointed out. This works because the mechanics using these books already know all of the steps left out and the best practices associated with them.
If you've ever used a Chilton's repair manual, you know what I'm talking about.
Bringing this back to coaching or more specifically career coaching this type of R&R advice may take a form similar to this:
Objective: How To Get Your Next Job
Of course, when we really think about it, there's so much gray area involved here that such advice is completely useless.
I mean specifics. Details.
When you're selecting a coach, be sure to find out if your coach can offer more than just broad procedures or a framework because what you'll find you need is very specific, very detailed, step by step guidance in today's rough and tumble world.
Principal Consultant, Career OverDrive!
In a previous post I've discussed some of the different categories or flavors of coaching styles and coaches.
Specifically I talked about:
1. The Peddlers of Hope and Passion (Hope Peddlers & Passion Peddlers).
2. The Peddlers of Fortune Cookie Inspiration.
Now, as I've said before all of these styles or flavors of coaching and coaches have their place and value depending on each client's needs and situation.
However, at some point, getting into a nuts and bolts discuss of (1) why you are here (current/present situation)and (2) how to get you from here to there, becomes extremely important, at least to most clients.
Beyond, hope, passion and inspiration there are the nuts and bolts of coaching and specific action for a client to take. But even here there are huge variations in the type of coach and the effectiveness of the coach's advice.
For instance, has the coach identified the correct or proper nuts and bolts? The proper tensile strength, the composition of metals, the number and the placement of the nuts and bolts?
One of the shortcomings I see in what most coaches offer today is that even when the nuts and bolts are offered and discussed, what is offered is very vague and generalized.
Worse, sometimes what's offered is just plain wrong.
A simple example to illustrate this would be telling a client to "eat a balanced meal".
- But what exactly is a balanced meal?
- How is that determined? By the vitamins, minerals and nutrients it possesses?
- But then what is the proper balance of vitamins, minerals and other nutrients and what is the proper or optimal timing of intake?
- How does it change by person, ethnicity, gender, age, lifestyle and so forth?
Beyond these vague nuts and bolts, I've noticed very vague advise that parallel's what's known in the automotive repair space as "R&R" or Remove and Replace.
Basically, it's shorthand method to cut through a lot of detailed steps in the automotive repair process and focus only on the procedures with a few caveats or warnings pointed out. This works because the mechanics using these books already know all of the steps left out and the best practices associated with them.
If you've ever used a Chilton's repair manual, you know what I'm talking about.
Bringing this back to coaching or more specifically career coaching this type of R&R advice may take a form similar to this:
Objective: How To Get Your Next Job
- Make sure your resume is up to date and really sells you - show your passion!
- Located the hiring manager(s) at the company you would like to work.
- Use LinkedIn to connect with them. Say something useful or work on building rapport, etc.
- And on and on.
Of course, when we really think about it, there's so much gray area involved here that such advice is completely useless.
- What does a good resume look like (and why)?
- How do I make a good resume sell me?
- How do I get it to show my passion (and why should I)?
- And so on.
I mean specifics. Details.
When you're selecting a coach, be sure to find out if your coach can offer more than just broad procedures or a framework because what you'll find you need is very specific, very detailed, step by step guidance in today's rough and tumble world.
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