Health Guide

Coaching for Success

The 45 minutes coaching for success presentation, by our team was designed with the purpose of providing participants with information about various coaching techniques; techniques that will assist managers and supervisors in their individual roles.

Roles such successful coaching, discussing coaching strengths and weaknesses and defining coaching challenges and solutions, for their company, organization they work for, or improving their personal learning skills. In my opinion the presentation was very informative and highly interactive, allowing participants an opportunity to enhance their coaching skills; also allowing the presenters to practice public speaking skills. The presentation provided feedback from the audience, by way of questions and answers, which suggested that we had their attention. I believe everyone, including our team benefitted from the presentation. Team work provides a spirite of togatherness and is an incentive healthy mind and body

There were learning objectives and learning outcomes, derived from the presentation that embrace diverse learning styles and formulate the various challenges coaches have to face and resolve in their teaching, working, and social environment. New knowledge has to be integrated with previous knowledge to provide solutions for relevant and diverse challenges to facilitate our changing society. This could be seen in the 10 minutes coaching exercise. The coaches were knowledgeable teachers, and they utilized their experience in overcoming challenges and invented special skills in motivating the group to accomplish the task. They demonstrated good insight in getting a positive outcome. The coaches were realistic, involving the entire group in order to achieve the desired end. The American Association of Law Libraries suggests that learning outcomes are statements that specific learners will know they are able to do as a result of the learning activity.  Coaches have to integrate new knowledge to accommodate a diversity of skills and learning styles. Coaches must take into account the unique difference between each learner. The coaching exercise demonstrated that integration of new knowledge requires focused effort on the part of coaches and learners. The coaches analyzed the task, set the climate for the teaching exercise and instructed the learners how to combine their skills to complete the task.

In the team presentation I have learned the importance’s of understanding the different learning theories and how they can be combined to provide effective learning outcomes.  I grasped the need for competence and familiarity with the course materials, so as to achieve goal as a competent coaching. I have gained lots of experience and knowledge, from working with the team, researching, planning and completing our assignment. Combining time and effort in this assignment teach physical and mental discipline. I have always believed that cooperation is more productive than competition. Integration of coaching knowledge and skills requires the transition of time, talent and willingness to understand learner’s strength and weaknesses and be effective in tailoring coaching styles to achieve the best result. The experience gained from our assignment, proves that coaches gain as much as their learners, which is an added incentive. The performance of our team increases my confidence and will enhance my proficiency.

The materials used for our coaching-for-success presentation, includes, Kolb’s Learning Style. It suggested that learners must actively participate in the learning experience. Learners respond differently to various teaching and learning strategies. Direction of learning is driven by a person’s goals and needs and therefore coaches must keep the individual learning style in mind. Maslow suggests that the need for self esteem, competence, recognition and achievement of individual’s potential, requires new knowledge and skills. Daily occurrences could change the life on needs that is uppermost in a person’s mind. An educator should take into account, the unique style of each learner; each person is different genetically, and in terms of past experiences.  Bandura believes that people choose their behaviors, based on what they think will happen to them. Therefore if a coach values knowledge in terms of skills and ability then he will be motivated to model that behavior.  Gardner’s theory of multiple intelligences suggests that if a coach is having difficulty reaching his learners, in the more traditional logical ways of instruction, they might want to utilize other kinds of intelligences by which the material could be presented to facilitate effective learning. It is recommended, that at the beginning of every coaching session, coaches should ask learners what they already know about the topic. Gardner’s theory addresses the learner’s experience and different learning intelligences. 
 
Reflecting on my performance as a presenter; I realized that I could have done much better, if I was mentally prepared. The lesson in Correct Mental Preparation outlines one’s ability to be great in public speaking. To achieve excellence, a good presenter or coach seeks out opportunities to speak or teach. Whenever I give a presentation I need to have the confidence that I did an excellent job. I have learned, from experience that some anxiety, can be a good stimulant, because it fuels enthusiasm during a presentation, however too much anxiety can cause the opposite effect. To be a professional coach or motivator, I need to seek out speaking opportunities. Frequency in coaching develops confidence in everyone’s communication skill. As a coach, it is imperative to use as many teaching aids as possible in the presentation; to assist in conducting an effective training activity. The10-minutes-coaching exercise reflects on the interest created in learners when a coach understands how to utilize aids in their training program. Just as body language is important to presentation, the visuals used are also extremely important, to impact visual attention, memory retention and reinforcement of what is presented. In reflecting, I asked myself a few question.
• What did we accomplish by the exercise?
• Did we achieve our goals in setting the climate for learning?
• Did we let learners understand the importance of accomplishing the task?
• Was knowledge imparted effectively to provide solutions?
• Have we reviewed our expected outcome and learning experience?
• How can we use the knowledge gained to improve our coaching skills?
The answers, will be achieved when we are asked to transfer the knowledge to a class room of adult learners, at home, work or in a social environment.

My experience in working together as a team, and putting our presentation together, provided rapport and support. Each of us was given an assignment, and we frequently contacted each other to compare notes. Researching new materials allows me to analyze and evaluate the importance of the transfer knowledge. In every article I have read, and in every discussion I had with our team a learning forum was presented. We spent long hours analyzing and compiling information, to fit into the limited time given for the presentation. Every aspect of the preparation presented a unique opportunity for bonding and learning. The assignment aided in revealing and nurturing my individual learning style and allowed me to value and appreciates the learning styles of the team members. Knowledge used efficiently provides unlimited opportunity in every phase of our daily activity. Therefore every learning exercise that involves team effort is a welcomed journey for a new learning experience. It was a hectic weekend to blend the final formula into a recipe for an informative learning tool, suitable for class motivation.

If we were given the opportunity to repeat this assignment; there are a few things I would encourage our team members to do differently. Because of the time allotted for the project and the busy working schedule for most of the team members, we could arrange a study session at the library. It would have been an excellent experience if team could have researched the theories as a group and then interchange ideas as we made notes. Again from my experience gained, I have discovered many areas on which I could improve. I would request, our team to allow some time to rehearse our presentation. I am not criticizing the, I believe we worked together efficiently consideration a team member was away from home and made time to communicate regularly. As an observation for the requirement of our written assignment, I personally, believe that all the above is a useful learning tool bridge our stressful teaching and learning environment. I would welcome the opportunity, to work with the members of our team on another assignment; I know it might not be possible, however it a wonderful thought.

There was lots of feedback on the training material, learning process, group progress and training exercise. The coaches’ enthusiasm motivated the learners and the learners rewarded the coaches by completing their task. “Thoughts are things’ and whatever the mind of man can conceive and believe; he will achieve”   Napoleon Hill “Think and Grow Rich”. 

 Matthew E McLaren       Ph.D.