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Part 2 of a four part series by Barbara Fagan
Coaching Accountability
Part 2: Choice is Better Than NO Choice In our last series we discussed the value of having your clients understand the power of being accountable. When clients understand that they have choices and they GET TO choose all the time - it creates infinite possibilities and a real sense of personal power. When working with our clients around being accountable we must always hold them as infinitely resourceful for creating anything they desire. There have been many times through the years when I have experienced a client coming to the call in total defeat about being able to achieve their goals. By being empathic, holding them accountable, without blame and judgment, staying neutral, the call ends with a deeper sense of resolve and possibilities. A practice I have applied when setting up all new client relationships is to help my clients understand what it means to be accountable. Most people come to be coached because they want to create some type of change. Well, change means that they must be willing to examine all that they know and all that they do, to see where course corrections can be made. This points them in a new direction. I let clients know that as a result of our coaching relationship they will experience a new relationship with the results in their life. From this they will continue long after coaching to understand the value of BEING accountable. Notice I said Being accountable? Accountability is not something we do but rather a way of being - like ownership. There is a difference between being accountable and being responsible. Again, this is why many people get confused about their results. "I am responsible" means that I can choose how to respond to any situation. Being proactive versus reactive. Being accountable means ownership and I get to look at all my choices and actions that lead to a specific result. Exploring Barriers to Performance It is when clients do not see that they have the power of choice they become blocked. Many times this comes from what I call their personal barrier to performance. We all have them and we all use them when we are not feeling confident, clear and resourceful. These become our natural STOP signs along our road of getting to where we want to be. Let's look at some of the most familiar barriers or STOP signs. Explaining - Defending, justifying and focusing on all the circumstances that lead to the outcome or results they created. This is the STORY they hold to be true and many times it is challenging for coaches to intervene in the story. Confusion - People who rely heavily on information to be confident before moving ahead will find themselves confused, unclear and asking many questions of their coach. Confusion is a typical barrier for personality types that tend to be more analytic. Confusion leads to procrastination and lack of action. Doubters - Worried but hopeful. This is the wait and see attitude. They would rather let someone else go first and take what they perceive as a risk. They benefit from coaching where they see themselves as capable and confident. Victim - Trier- Never quite making it - makes the run for the goal again and again and falls short. Coaching the Victim or Trier requires that as a coach we work to break it down into small enough steps and actions that reduces the element of risk. The more success clients have the greater confidence they gain and willingness to take more risks. Cynic - Distrusting - Create a good deal of evidence about how others will not support them or they cannot trust the positive intention of those they have as resources. Cynics come from a history of failing or having others let them down. They work hard to protect themselves and use their cynicism as a great cover up. When coaching cynics it is great to ask "what if" questions followed by "then what"? Eventually they will lead themselves to a place where they begin to see a positive outcome potential and more willing to take action. As we coach our clients we hear, in the way they talk about their results, or declare what they want, usually one of these barriers comes up. So how does a coach work with their client to have ownership and accountably when faced with these barriers? Finding The Way - Overcoming Barriers As you look with your clients about their results, the first place to look is at the actual result. For instance, I was working with a client recently who shared that they have NEVER in their professional life ever been as stuck as they were at this time of change. Taking the focus off the immediate circumstance and all the explanation about why things were the way they were, I began to explore with them a time when they had been challenged, gotten through it and learned some valuable lesson. You can do this by asking some of the following questions that will assist your client to see new possibilities. Some of the coaching questions that I might ask to create awareness and renewed commitment would be:
About our expert: Barbara Fagan is the President of Resource Realizations, Inc. and the Director of The Resource Academy which trains and certifies professional coaches. She has worked as a master coach and facilitator within the U.S. and international businesses community for over twenty years. Barbara began coaching in 1987 before it was a "known" profession. She is an excellent coach for individuals and businesses involved in the change process, which includes working through career transitions, defining strategic business imperatives and communicating with clarity to reach alignment. She is affiliated with the International Coach Federation and the International Association of Coaches. Visit and learn more about Resource Realizations at www.resourcerealizations.com choice, the magazine of professional coaching Follow us on Twitter twitter.com/choicemagazine Feedback is welcome at ExpertSeries@choice-online.com Visit our choice Websitechoice, the magazine of professional coaching
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