Unlocking Your Full Potential: How Coachable Are You?
by Preeti Prayag
3 minutes read
Have you ever watched a sports team achieve incredible success under a new coach? It’s a story that’s played out time and time again in movies, from the Mighty Ducks to the Karate Kid. But what about the flip side of that story? What happens when a team brings in a new coach, but the players just don’t seem to be responding to their methods? It’s not only a matter of the coach’s abilities or experience in isolation that is transformative.
Sometimes, it comes down to the players themselves and their willingness to be coached. Or in other words, their coachability. The same principle applies in the world of business coaching, where the coachability of the client is a key factor in the success of a coaching relationship.
How coachable are you really? This may seem like a simple question, but it has profound implications for your personal and professional growth. Being coachable means that you are open to learning new skills, changing your mindset and habits, believing in yourself and your potential, and taking action on feedback. Being coachable can help you achieve your goals faster, overcome challenges easier, and develop stronger relationships with others.
Your coachability can be an important factor in defining your coaching journey. After all, coaching can be a powerful tool for professional and personal growth, but it’s not a one-size-fits-all solution. To truly get the most out of a coaching program, you need to be coachable. How can you determine if you are receptive to coaching at this stage of your life or career? In this blog, we’ll explore the concept of coachability and provide you with insights to help you determine your coachability index.
Understanding Coachability and its importance
Coachability, in brief, is a measure of one’s willingness and ability to be coached. It’s the openness to feedback, the willingness to learn and change, and the ability to commit time and resources to the coaching process. A high level of coachability means that you’re willing and able to take an active role in your own development and make the changes necessary to achieve your goals.
Coachability is important because it’s the most significant factor in determining the effectiveness of coaching. A coach can provide the best advice, tools, and techniques, but if you’re not coachable, you won’t see any results. It’s like having a personal trainer who gives you a customized workout plan, but if you don’t follow it, you won’t get any fitter.
Managers can benefit from knowing how to identify whether someone is coachable or not, whether dealing with a difficult employee or assessing a potential candidate. A coachable person has a growth-oriented mindset and takes ownership instead of playing the blame-game or making excuses.
Nurturing a team of coachable individuals can lead to growth and success, both for the individual and the organization. Coachability is an invaluable quality for employees in any industry. That’s because even if an employee has the necessary knowledge, experience, and skills but lack a healthy level of coachability, they are likely to plateau sooner into their career.
Understanding your Coachability Index
One of the best ways to identify your coachability index is to ask yourself some key questions. Do you believe that you can improve and learn new things? Are you willing to step outside of your comfort zone and try new approaches? Do you actively seek out feedback from others? Are you committed to making changes and taking action?
Signs of coachable individuals include being growth-oriented, willing to be vulnerable, trying new things, open to change, eager to learn, open-minded in the face of feedback, action-oriented, self-aware, holding themselves accountable, and keeping the big picture in mind. These individuals are motivated to learn and improve, and they take responsibility for their actions. To be coachable, a person must be willing to step outside their comfort zone and have a learner’s mindset. It is important to assess coachability before proceeding with coaching to ensure that both parties can achieve success.
If you’re not as coachable as you’d like to be, don’t worry. Coachability is a skill that can be developed over time. To start your journey towards becoming more coachable, here are some ways to consider even if you don’t feel ready at the moment:
· Take a personality assessment for greater self-awareness.
· Unlock new appreciation for growth and gratitude by starting a daily journal practice.
· Seek feedback from your manager or mentor about growth areas and whether coaching could be a good fit for you. The act of seeking feedback is the first step towards becoming more coachable.
· Re-think your schedule and don’t let your workload prevent you from taking on coaching. Working with a coach can help you become more efficient with your time and make decisions faster. Speaking regularly with a coach during busy times can help you rapidly apply new strategies and insights.
Coachability is the key to effective coaching. It’s the willingness and ability to be coached, to learn and change, and to commit time and resources to the coaching process. By identifying your coachability index and improving your coachability, you can get the most out of your coaching experience and achieve your goals.
We must also remember that understanding our coachability is not a one-time event; it’s an ongoing process that requires commitment, curiosity and courage. The more coachable you are, the more value you will get from coaching — both personally and professionally.
Are you ready to take your coachability index to the next level? Reach out to us at information@mentoring-matters.com to get started.
- Previous article:
- Next article:
PREETI PRAYAG
Preeti Prayag is the co-founder of Mentoring Matters, a platform for businesses and individuals across industries to drive holistic professional growth across mid and senior-level positions through dedicated coaching by certified professionals.