Coaching – a navigational course in management

By Professor Henrik Holt Larsen

The concept of coaching has become very popular. So popular that most people find it just as easy as taking the daily dose of vitamin C.

However, it is a fact that this method only generates the praised outcome, if you have the ability to navigate through the turbulent waters of modern management.

This fact was pointed out by two American coaching experts, John Bennett from Queens University, and Mary Bush from The Foundation of Coaching.

The coach should only be talking 20 % of the time

The coachee – not the coach - must set the agenda for the session and talk most of the time. The fact that many coaches are leaders is a problem. They are used to, good at and feel most secure when they talk a lot. But it is a complete wrong approach when it comes to coaching. Ideally, the coach only talks 20 % of the time during a session.

Another pitfall is to view coaching as problem solving in preference to asking the right questions. A lot of leaders often play the role as problem solvers, which makes it difficult for them to sit down and listen - and keep all their suggested answers to themselves.

Someone once said: ”Intelligence is about giving the right answers. Wisdom is about asking the right questions”. However, numerous leaders experience that they are not quite sure of what they should be asking.

Bennett and Bush were ready with two good answers to this: ”It is probably because you have not been listening carefully enough. And: try turning it around and ask the coachee: ”What question would be best to ask you right now?”.”

Never ask ”why”

And then Bennett and Bush made it unmistakably clear: using the word why during a coaching session is banned. The reason is that questions like: ”Why did you…?” typically triggers a defence reaction, and then it is quite difficult to get on with the constructive coaching.

It is supposed to be a walk in the park, but it actually isn’t...

Read more in Berlingske Tidende

Read Berlingske Tidende today and next Wednesday to gain insight into this year’s annual meeting, when Professor Henrik Holt Larsen writes home.

The Academy of Management is the world’s leading association within management and organisation with more than 18,000 members from 102 different countries. This year’s theme ”The Questions We Ask” pinpoints the things that researchers do not know about management and organisation. More than 7,000 members from 83 countries are participating in this year’s annual meeting.