COACHING SKILLS
The Role of the Coach
What have
I gotten
myself
into???
Your Assignments
• 1-2 state coaching teams
• State coordinator
• 1 state coach for every 2 participating local
Leagues
• May be new or continuing states
• A partner coach
• Attend training
What it looks like every month. . .
And then. . .
Each month. . .
• 1-2 calls with your state
coaching teams
• 1-2 calls with your
partner’s state coaching
teams
• 1 call with the Shur
Fellows team
Who are you coaching?
Partnership among Leagues
LWVUS
State
Local
LWVUS Board
State Board
League Board
Shur Fellows
State Coordinator
Coordinator
LWVUS Staff
State Coaches
Committee
What is a state coordinator?
• Supporting and Coordinating the Coaching Team
• Facilitating Communication
• Modeling at the state level
It’s not just
phone calls!
When and how have
you been mentored in
the past?
Your #1 Goal as a State Coach
BUILD a RELATIONSHIP with the
individuals you coach!
A-ha moment…
The camera flashed to his coach, and the obvious
struck me as interesting… Professional athletes
use coaches to make sure they are as good as
they can be. But doctors [and others] don’t…why
did I find it inconceivable to [have] someone to
come into my operating room and coach me on my
surgical technique?
Personal Best: Top athletes and singers have coaches.
Should you? by Atul Gawande The New Yorker, October 3,
2011
You actually have 4 Roles. . .
• Mentor
• Cheerleader
• Accountability Coach
• Communicator
Mentor
1. a wise and trusted counselor or
teacher.
2. an influential senior sponsor or
supporter.
Mentor
• Provide guidance and training
• Inquire about progress and challenges
• Share ideas from your experience/knowledge
• Debrief on recent events/activities
• What worked?
• What didn’t work?
• What did you learn?
• Lead them to make decisions
• Support!
Cheerleader
• Help local Leagues see and applaud their
•
•
•
•
successes
All about stopping and smelling the roses
Remember success breeds success
Positivity rubs off
Will be invigorating for all participating
Accountability Coach
• Keeping your mentees on track
• With current plans
• To continue developing new plans
• Pointing out successes and how to
work on setbacks
• NOT A PUNITIVE ROLE
• Don’t let your states slip back
in to old habits
Keeping on Track
• Reporting consistently can help you keep track of what is
happening.
• Every month, you will:
• Complete an online survey report about each local League you
•
•
•
•
coach
Usually takes about 8-10 minutes per survey
Communicates to your national coach
Saves time on calls with national coach
Gives you time to reflect
Communicator
• You’re an ambassador between the levels of the League
• Sharing information from state and national – and
reporting back on the needs and successes of the local
Leagues.
Bringing It All Together
• Each Monthly Call:
• Ground Rules
• Reporting Out
• Challenges
• Successes
• Monthly Guidance
• Highlight resources
• Set YOU up as the trainer
• Other Topics
• Next Call
Create an effective atmosphere – one
that attracts people.
• Run it like a meeting that respects people’s time
and schedules.
• Provide opportunities for learning.
• Stay positive.
• Have some fun (informal chat is good).
Basic Tips
• Start on time, end on time
• Stick to the agenda
• Have everyone identify
themselves
• Set some ground rules
• Treat it like any other meeting –
quiet location, no interruptions
• Know how to work your mute
button!
• Don’t talk for too long; allow
everyone to speak
Remember. . .
Appreciative Inquiry?
Simultaneous Factor
Inquiry and change happen
simultaneously!
Questions direct our
attention… which directs our
experience!
• What are the morale issues
on your LWV board?
or
• What excites you about
working on this board?
Open More Possibilities
Every moment is full of an
infinite array of
possibilities!
•We can only see what we
have grown an eye to see.
•Look at strengths & for
opportunities …
and new things will
emerge.
Yes, and. . . .
We set the tone!
How are we approaching the calls?
• Look at any challenge with a positive lens. It holds
opportunities for mutual growth and for improving the
relationship. Keep the big picture.
• Help to generate options from which the group can chose
by ASKING questions.
• Help identify the concrete next steps to action.
• Never place blame and speak well of others.
• Be reliable in the ways that they need you
Choose your words wisely. . .
Use I-statements rather than “you” statements
 “You aren’t doing what we talked about on our last call.” vs. “I think
there could be some missed opportunities to capitalize on.”
Use factual descriptions instead of judgments
 “Your event venue isn’t acceptable.” vs. “These prices seem high.
Are there other options?”
Use direct language when asking others to do
something.
 “We should really think about ways to get media publicity for this
event.” vs. “Who in the League you are coaching could you ask
about getting media publicity for this event?”
What makes a good coach?
A good coach . . .
• Enthusiasm
• Enjoys people
• Strong listening skills
• Ability to develop a comfortable relationship so that League leaders
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
•
can share frustrations and awkward situations that may arise
Strong verbal communication skills
Creativity and ability to identify opportunities and provide suggestions
Patient
Observant
Respectful and supportive
Clear
Empathetic
Follows through
Sense of humor
Uses positive reinforcement wherever possible
A good coach. . .
Avoids being judgmental and open to considering new
ideas
• All Leagues are different
• Different personalities handle challenges differently
(we’ll talk more about this)
• Multiple good solutions to every problem
• Guide, don’t dictate
A good coach. . .
• Focuses on
membership and
leadership
development
• Helps local Leagues
improve/expand
what they are
already doing
Remember. . .
It’s a process!
Change takes time. . .
• You won’t see membership growth
overnight
• Need to remain:
• Positive
• Persistent
• Patient
Lifecycle of any team/group:
PHASE
TEAM
OUTPUT
FORMING
Uncertain but
optimistic
Low
STORMING
Conflict surfaces
Low
NORMING
Sense of team
emerges
Moderate
PERFORMING
Fully functional
Very high
Patience and persistence will pay off!
What we don’t expect from a coach
DISCLAIMER!
One of the keys to building trust is
confidentiality.
It’s a
secret….
Shhhh!