Well, I could not be more humbled! Here I thought I had a pretty good handle on what a business coach was and then this . . . The Master Coach: Leading with Character, Building Connections, and Engaging in Extraordinary Conversations by Gregg Thompson comes along. This one, ladies and gentlemen of the jury, is a game changer!
What Exactly Is a “Coach”?
For so many of us, the word “coach” or the verb “to coach” has a singular meaning; that of one who serves as a spirited advisor. Certainly, in sports, the term “coach” needs no explanation yet in business, it’s all over the place as is its intent. For example, as an experienced manager, are you not ask to mentor a new hire? Or advise a co-worker? Or perhaps help train someone new? To our surprise, this is not coaching although we think it is and Thompson does an excellent job of explaining why.
To quote from the book’s Introduction, “When done well, coaching is one of the most effective human resource development processes available. To do great coaching work, one must authentically be a coach. Coaching is a complex human-to-human relationship whose ultimate success depends much more on the character and intention of the coach than on any particular method he or she uses.” With this in mind, our author focuses much of the book on the character traits, perspectives, attitudes, values, and behaviors that distinguish great coaches. True, coaching does involve advising, mentoring and training, but true coaching is so much more.
What Coaching Is and Is Not
Thompson explains that a coach can help a leader develop and communicate character with great success as coaching focuses on the individual rather than the development of the organization. He goes on to tell us a coach is not a friend, counselor, or mentor, but a person of great character who is also skilled with relationships and conversation and can transmit this skill to others. In order to help readers develop their coaching abilities, which, Thompson warns, is not easy, he walks them through creating a coaching culture, communicating ethics and values, developing the characteristics of a great coach, and building long-term relationships.
Then How Is Coaching Supposed to Work?
The Master Coach is based on the simple but profound 3Cs Coaching Model. This proven approach asserts that to master the art of coaching one must have an exemplary Character that invites the trust of others, be able to form rapid Connections with others at deeply personal level, and have the ability to initiate and guide intense, attitude-changing Conversations. At every step, Thompson reminds readers that coaching is not merely about what the coach says or does; it is about who he or she is.
Thompson also differentiates between coaching and teaching. Teaching is a unilateral exercise, with the teacher imparting knowledge to the learner. In coaching relationships, both the Coach and the Talent are learning together.
Perhaps the greatest confusion for many occurs between coaching and mentorship. The core difference, according to Thompson, is that a mentor guides the Talent by drawing on past experience, knowledge and wisdom. In contrast, he writes, “The coach opens the door to an inquiry, a discovery and learning process that unfolds in the moment.” Gregg Thompson brings enormous credibility and not just as a Master Coach but also as an accomplished researcher and writer.
Structure and Layout
Readers will find The Master Coach to be an effective field guide. Its design contains many elements of a textbook and like a textbook, needs a linear approach. Yes, some chapters stand on their own but benefit will come from starting at the Introduction and following the lessons it has to teach us one at a time. Nineteen short chapters are strategically woven into two main parts that builds much as a fascinating novel does. What readers will also find is that some segments will be deserving of a second read. Not because of complexity but from the valuable lessons it has to impart.
Detailed and honest, built on personal experiences with clients and supplemented by insightful lists (e.g., the seven characteristics of a coaching culture; the top 10 ways to build a long-term coaching relationship), The Master Coach is a comprehensive, well-structured guide for leaders ready to begin their conversations with the people they want to coach.
Who Will Benefit Most from This Book?
All management and organizational leaders.
About the author:
Gregg Thompson is President of Bluepoint Leadership Development, recognized as one of the finest providers of coach-training programs in the world. Having coached many of the most senior leaders in Fortune 100 companies and trained thousands of coaches worldwide, Gregg is uniquely qualified to write the definitive book on what it takes to be a Master Coach.
Professor | Strayer University
[email protected]
www.strayer.edu