Blog Archives - Stanger Pro

QUICK 2 MINUTE READS ON HOW TO BECOME A BETTER COACH

After 10 years of running our coaching business, what’s the best thing I’ve learned?

You often see it. Someone hits a milestone that stimulates some, what did I learn along the way… reflection. This often leads to a list...

It’s good to talk…

The following has been stimulated by two things. Firstly a really good book called Billy No-mates by Max Dickins about male friendships. Secondly, as my...

How do you coach people who don’t think the same way as you?

I hear this a lot. People with a certain level of experience of the working environment (older) get frustrated/surprised how people newer to the workplace...

Are you good at coaching people who are being vulnerable?

People are now rightly being encouraged to be more open and talk about how they feel and while this is an important forward step in...

The importance of taking time to understand context…

I tend to frequent the same coffee shop and over the course of a week I noticed 3 people who brought their lunch with them...

Have you done your goal setting for 2025?

The start of a new year feels a good time to set some goals – “what would I like to achieve in the next 12...

(Another!!) quick thought on feedback…

I’m sure this happens to you often. You’re in the middle of something and a colleague/partner/child wants to quickly get your feedback on something that...

Why who you are is crucial in the coaching relationship…

If I asked you to describe yourself, where would you start? Would you go with physical characteristics or focus more on personality? Would you be...

Prepare by not preparing – have you got the skills?

Are you someone who likes to prepare for your coaching meetings or 1-1’s? Does this include an agenda of things to discuss to keep you...

Some thoughts on how to develop skills (including coaching!!) that are very nuanced…

This comes up often for me – particularly when the coaching focus is to develop the skills experienced people need to allow them to feel...

Your coaching style – where are you on ‘the answer is within’ continuum?

There’s lots of opinion out there on ‘the best’ coaching style but something I wanted to draw your attention to is the idea that ‘the...

How important is understanding someone’s values when you’re coaching?

I think it’s crucial as someone’s values impact how they learn and grow, what they choose to prioritise and the effectiveness of how they interact...

The best way (in my opinion!) to make a connection to someone new…

I used to find it quite stressful when I met someone I didn’t know. Most of the time I struggled beyond – “what do you...

How to tell people what you think of them…

In terms of helping someone to become a better coach the most impactful thing I do is tell people what I think of them. How...

A simple idea to help when coaching someone who’s got you fired up…

Credit where credit is due and the following was stimulated when reading Supercommunicators by Charles Duhigg (The Power of Habit). The book made me think...

Sorry, did you ask if I was a good listener?

Would you be surprised to know there’s an International Journal of Listening (strangely it’s not available on audiobook 😊)? I was but then being a...

How important is showing you care to effective coaching?

I was reminded recently how much I love simplicity when the Head Coach of the New York Jets, Robert Saleh, was asked about his philosophy...

How can you increase your chances of having a conversation that has the impact you want?

If (like me!) having more effective conversations (at home and in the workplace) is one of your New Year’s resolutions then I thought it might...

A useful approach if you think a conversation may get a wee bit feisty…

A key part of being human is our concern about our status (in relation to our social standing) and being acknowledged as somehow adding value...

Why it can be important in coaching to understand what comes first – feedback or solutions?

I recently finished reading a book about supporting families going through significant trauma and it reminded me about an approach I think is underutilised in...

Some thoughts on coaching someone who’s having a vent…

While I do embrace my role when someone is in full venting mode and wants to get something off their chest, I’d also say it’s...

More on feedback..

Often helping someone improve the effectiveness of their coaching requires them to change how they think. For me this is never more relevant than in...

How much of where you perform impacts on how you perform?

Warning! This post has a lot more questions than answers so only read on if you’re looking for something to think about for a while!...

Some thoughts on coaching people who are feeling anxious..

If you’re a frequent train traveller you’ll know that on the information board on the platform they let you know if the train you want...

Relationship building and is it time for a bit of self-coaching?

I’m not long back from a relaxing holiday where I took the chance to read about less specific topics than coaching to see what ideas...

Using storytelling in your coaching… and why there’s more than one way to tell a story…

Although the origins are disputed, legend has it that Ernest Hemingway made a wager with fellow writers that he could write a story in only...

Who will get your 100% today?

One of the habits my current role has helped me to build is the ability to give 100% of my focus of attention to one...

Coaching content and the importance of taking time to not think about development…

As you read this I’ll be a few days into a 3-week holiday which is a decent chunk of time (the life span of a...

Coaching and the 2 How’s of impacting limiting thinking…

Those of you who coach regularly will know that to help someone improve their performance can often mean having to impact their limiting thinking –...

Some thoughts on building quality relationships…

If building quality relationships is on your priority list for 2023 then here’s something that might be useful (stimulated by a book called Conversations on...

What’s the hot topic in coaching right now?

I’m not sure who decides what becomes a hot topic but here are my thoughts in case it’s my turn! Managing the impact of our...

A (hopefully!) useful question to help you be better at feedback…

Is helping someone to improve their ability to give feedback the same as helping them help the person they’re coaching to be better at receiving...

87% of workers feel they are more efficient WFH… and 80% of managers disagree – so who’s right?

Apologies for the clickbait headline but a recent Microsoft survey has looked at the latest work trends and this, unfortunately, was the headline that made...

Here’s how I can tell how good someone is at helping to bring the best out of others….

How to measure the impact of coaching is a frequent topic of conversation in my world and while there are a number of ways to...

Is it time to upgrade your skills when you need to make unpopular decisions?

Although it’s been a while now, I find it interesting that I still spend a decent amount of time talking through issues around the balance...

Is empathy crucial to how you coach? Well here’s some thoughts on how to use it…

I’m a big fan of using empathy in my coaching but the following from the book, Tell me the truth about love by Susanna Abse...

Could embracing distractions be the key to better performance?

Being around my 16-year-old son as he studies for his Highers has reminded me of our ability as humans to be easily distracted! We know...

If in doubt, say something…

I was walking from Haymarket station into Edinburgh a couple of weeks back and about 30 yards in front of a me a bus swerved...

What to listen out for when coaching people who are feeling stressed…

While too much stress in your life is not good, we all feel the pressure at times so helping people deal with stressful situations will...

Why accepting you’re not always 100% honest could be the key to being an honest coach…

I’ve been thinking about the role honesty plays in coaching interactions and particularly how we could get to a position where we can be 100%...

Why understanding spin-rates can help you give your coachee what they NEED….

This was on the BBC website recently and it made me smile… In the US, President Joe Biden’s administration says it’ll distribute around 400 million...

Why setting priorities for 2022 might take longer than you think…

The start of a new year is a great time to reflect on where you are in life and where you want to go and...

50 and counting… but what would be number 1?

I’ve just worked out that this is the 50th article I’ve posted. That’s 50 individual (but linked) thoughts and ideas around coaching which hopefully people...

A ridiculously simple way for coaches to impact motivation…

The people I work with learn quickly that I’ll hang on their every word. I do this for a number of reasons but mostly because...

When faced with a challenge, does how you coach ADD pressure to the situation or take it away?

In the build up to the recent Ryder Cup between Europe and the USA, the American captain, Steve Stricker, decided against what has become ‘the...

Why good coaches embrace zeitgeist when offering their advice

Being asked for your advice can often happen when you’re coaching and while you can use questions to help someone work out what to do,...

What would you say to an athlete who had a bad day at the Olympics?

Although the media rightly focus on the good news stories from the Olympics, I’ll admit I’m fascinated with what coaches do when athletes don’t do...

Want to help a fellow coach? …then make sure you’re actually helping…

What would you do in this situation? You’ve spoken to a colleague who’s not their usual self and you know another colleague is going to...

Why individual coaching can be more about what’s the same, rather than what’s different…

If you want to help someone reach their potential then understanding them as an individual makes sense. In sport they talk about, coach the person...

Some thoughts on mentoring

There’s a TV show on Sky Documentaries about an improvisation comedy hip-hop group (who knew!?) in America and it follows their story over a number...

Worried about over-coaching?… then this story might help…

I know someone really well (to protect identities let’s call him Tommy) who is passionate about his role in helping those around him reach their...

How to help your team when day-to-day motivation is flagging…

Over the past few weeks I’ve found people are more willing to admit they’re struggling with motivation. I am. I’ve found this lockdown the hardest...

When things go wrong, watch your language if you want people to be better next time

I watched a post-match interview recently with a football manager whose team just had a really bad day at the office. He started by saying,...

Why coaches need to prepare NOW for something that WILL happen in 2021

Although there are no guarantees in life, one thing I’m certain will happen in 2021 is you will be faced with some tough coaching discussions...

A lesson about coaching from a golf coaching lesson!

Here’s something that might be useful. I had a golf lesson recently and one of the key elements of the session was to check my...

Underperforming staff? Why the coach (…and not coaching) could be holding them back!

How much do you agree with the following statement – managers get the performance they expect? The question I’m really asking is, do you think...

Can you still be successful if the process is the goal?

If you’re familiar with goal setting, then you’ll know the recommended wisdom is to focus on the PROCESS of how you achieve your goal rather...

If one of your team has f***ed up, what can a coach do to make sure it doesn’t happen again?

There’s a TV series on Amazon Video called The Test which follows the Australian Cricket Team in the summer of 1999 as they play the...

Why context is everything when you need to coach up!

Here’s a scenario to get you thinking about how to use your coaching skills to ‘influence’ your boss!! You’ve developed an idea you think will...

How to use coaching to help someone do something better that they don’t know they need to do better!

To get you thinking about how to do this, list the pros and cons of two different approaches to a lockdown learning situation that happened...

How will the role of coaching change in the ‘new’ normal?

Humans have always needed to be adaptable. Environments are ever changing and as we all have a vested interest in our own survival, we need...

Why watching ‘too much’ TV can be a good thing!

I don’t watch much TV but I’m sure I’m like most of you in that my TV habit has increased quite a bit recently. And...

How working from home can help you develop the little things that can make a big difference

When I talk to people about how to plan their ongoing development, I ask them to think in percentages. People are busy and need to...

Could FOMO be harming performance in your organisation?

If you have ‘phone age’ kids (kids old enough to own a mobile phone – about 3 years old these days!) you’ll know that FOMO,...

Why thinking about your grammar (not to be confused with your Grandma!) is crucial when giving feedback

Here’s something for you to try. Next time you’re called upon to give someone feedback (or decide to give it anyway!!), pay attention to your...

My New Year resolution? Why I’d rather answer a different question

My youngest son asked me at Christmas if I had a New Year resolution. He knows I never have a straightforward answer to a question...

If you want my advice, don’t forget about coaching when you’re asked for advice!!

I set up a meeting recently to ask someone I know well (but hadn’t seen for a while) for some advice about an area I...

How can you create a coaching habit ACROSS your organisation?

To get you thinking about how you could do this I want to share some work we did with Andrea Black and Monica Smith at...

What can we learn from the Rugby World Cup about accountability?

I’ve noticed that ‘people’ are quick to get stuck in when their teams not playing well at the Rugby World Cup, so I thought I’d...

How do you coach someone who’s already VERY good at what they do?

Even when you give someone time to reflect, people who are very good at what they do (and have often been in an organisation for...

How good are you at taking ‘off the cuff’ coaching opportunities?

Here’s a quick story about taking opportunities. As we went through security at the airport last month to go on a family holiday, I noticed...

What works best – a coaching conversation or a conversation with coaching in it?

What’s the difference? Sometimes it’s useful to set clear ground rules when you’re coaching – “this will be a coaching conversation, I’ll only ask questions...

Why using the 3 C’s of coaching can increase your chances of success

This month I’m keen to get you thinking about coaching in terms of 3 C’s – and in particular the third C which the people...

How a simple idea can help you build more effective relationships

I came across this idea recently in a book about the science of happiness and it made me stop and think about how I build...

The impact of emotions on performance – and what coaches can do to help

I’m coming across this a lot lately. As I help people become effective everyday coaches, they often tell me the people they’re working with can...

People want to feel connected at work – what does this mean for you as a coach?

I don’t know if you’re aware of this but there’s a lot of research that shows that in the ‘modern’ workplace, people want to FEEL...

Why good coaches know not all mistakes are created equal

You often hear people say that mistakes are a good thing because we can learn from them. I’m not a fan of generalisations like this...

What Kevin Bridges reminds us about great coaching…

My wife and I went to see comedian Kevin Bridges in Glasgow recently. He’s one of our favourites and as always, he didn’t disappoint. The...

A timely reminder why, “that’s just how I am”, isn’t just about you

I’ve recently taken on a role coaching my sons football team and one thing that’s struck me is the desire of opposing team’s coaches to...

Why reading the next 2 paragraphs WON’T make you a better coach!

I’m interested in WHEN you decide to read this Insight. And more specifically, what you do next. One of the big challenges we all face...

When it comes to identifying talent, always read the label!!

I’ve looked at a lot of approaches used to identify ‘talent’ in sport and business and it’s clear that many organisations aren’t too sure about...

Are you falling into the trap of thinking you’re better than you are?

I love the fact that when surveyed, 80% of people think they’re an above average driver! Not only does this make me smile but it...

The ‘dreaded’ annual appraisal – what can you do to make it more effective?

I work with many organisations and one of the most consistent things I come across is a feeling that the annual appraisal process is not...

Why ‘switching on’ can help you ‘switch off’ when you’re on holiday

I’m not sure about you, but I find it difficult to switch off from work when I’m on holiday (I’m writing this while in the...

Do you work in a ‘despite the system’ organisation?

What would happen if an organisation provided no training to their staff? None. Zero. Would it be a disaster waiting to happen, or do you...

You’re going to need a bigger hammer!!

Unless you work for a demolition company this is probably not an expression you use very often but it’s become a key part of my...

Practising in plain sight

I’m going to use this insight to develop the skill of, let’s call it, anti-procrastination! My default setting when I’m writing is to take ages...

Tiger Woods and the story of everything and the main thing

Golf fans among you will know that the Masters starts this weekend. I’m sure you will also know that after a period plagued with injuries...

Why 3 simple questions can help you become a better coach

On a scale of 1 to 10, with 1 being not at all and 10 being extremely, how important is it in your role (as...

What an Olympic champion can teach us about learning in ‘safety’

Here’s a quote from US Olympic swimming star Katie Ledecky’s coach, Bruce Gemmell – “We’ll try a drill that she’s horrible at – something where she’ll...

I want my team to take more responsibility for how to improve, but what if they can’t work it out on their own?

If you just tell them how to do it, you risk them coming back to ask for help whenever they’re struggling – very time consuming...

You never stop learning, even when you’re trying not to!

I’m just back from Christmas in New Zealand and the plan was to have some quality down time with family. However, as someone with a...

Stanger Pro everyday coaching in business

What’s the no. 1 thing business can learn from sport?

I wouldn’t hold sport up as a model of excellence to help businesses improve their performance through coaching. Much of what happens in sports coaching...

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