Tools and techniques for coaching

Successful coaching execution requires that coaches have access to tools and techniques to ensure they make an impact with their coaching. Coaches simply don’t have the time to discover the best tools and techniques to do the best job. Finding such tools is the job of the head coach. For example, coaches need a playbook—plays that leaders and managers can coach toward that will enable them to improve the skills of the team. This could be a playbook on how to run a great meeting, or how to develop great customer service skills, or how to make a successful presentation.

There are hundreds of tools and techniques available for coaches today. The key is to let leaders and managers have easy access to these tools and techniques so they can get to the real job of coaching. Tools and techniques that slow them down or don’t make sense to the coaches will only make coaching easier to resist and give them another reason not to do it.

Similarly, today’s technology can make connecting with employees faster and easier than ever. Technology is a critical element to coaching, as teams are oftentimes dispersed around the globe, making ongoing face-to-face interactions impossible. Technology can help the coaches prepare for the coaching sessions, run the coaching sessions, and record the outcome of the coaching sessions. One of my favorites is CoachingCloud.®? This cloud-based software provides an online platform to manage your organizational coaching. Coaches can connect online with the coachees through the cloud, allowing them to add value between sessions, which helps to develop a culture of coaching and a focus on improving performance.

The more technology can be used to simplify coaching, the more likely coaching will occur.