Grab 'The Coaching Moment' - Learning From Sachin Tendulkar

Recently, I had the opportunity to get up, close - and I want to say personal also, but then it was a sponsored event, with the God of Cricket ...Sachin Tendulkar. It was the usual thing - group photos, lucky draw for memorabilia, lunch, Q&A, and a chance to listen to the recently retired maestro speak from the heart.

I want to share with you some thoughts provoked by the stories Sachin shared with us.

The question to him went something like this: "Sachin, you made it to the India team when you were just 16 years old! You must have had Seniors giving you a lot of tips on what to do/not to do....And then suddenly, you were the Best in the world, the India Captain, with young players coming up to you for advice. How did you manage that transition?"

Am I glad Sachin did not answer that saccharine coated question directly!

"Yes, it is true that my team mates... were far more experienced than I was....but I was not afraid of walking up to my seniors to tell them what I thought they were doing wrong, while we were out in the middle (playing)", Sachin said. And he continued " It made no sense for me to tell them about their mistakes in the dressing room, after they had gotten themselves out of the game".

He went on... "When I became the senior-most member of the Indian Cricket Team, I would tell the youngsters ...I will be annoyed with you if you come and tell me about my mistakes in the dressing room." Sachin's advice to team members: "Tell me while I am batting. That's when you need to tell me where I am going wrong. We all make mistakes - and I want you to tell me there and then, on the field."

Why?

"Because I'd like to continue to bat, to score more runs, to win the game for my country, my team and myself ...rather than getting out".

Thinking back on Sachin words, I see very important parallels in our work lives. As leaders, we are constantly urged to "coach and mentor" our teams and colleagues. And we do so. We have structured reviews, regular coaching sessions, feedback mechanisms to fall back on. At times, we even invest in external coaches. But what Sachin highlighted was the power of "The Coaching Moment".

Coaching in the moment
These are fertile moments. Done well, coaching in the moment can deliver significant changes in behaviour, with lasting results. Several benefits are immediately evident...
1. The context for coaching advice is clear and present.
2. The matter in question is easily pin-pointed.
3. There is no loss in translation, no filtering of memory.
4. Continuity can lead to better results/next steps.
5. Timeliness will surely help the recipient of advice reap better rewards.

The importance of pin-pointing your inputs, and it's timeliness cannot be over-emphasised. To do it right, one needs to equip oneself. Some tips:
A) Know your team members, stay up-to-date with their strengths and opportunity areas. Without this knowledge, your coaching has no design to it - it is generic advice. This is important for targeting your advice.
B) Invest time to understand 'how' they are going about achieving results. Coaching is, after all, about behaviour. .
C) Dialogue on the 'how' - this is when most coaching moments pop up. This is the time for pin-pointing your advice.
D) Of course, one needs to be careful about ensuring a secure environment, for the recipient to be amenable to advice. No posturing in public.
E) Follow up on the 'how'. Be deliberate now, to underpin the learning from the coaching moment.

In sport, such moments can be obvious and happen within a compressed timespan. In our daily lives however, we need to be generous with our time. We need to let these coaching moments arrive at their own pace when we connect with the people we live and work with. We need to be genuinely interested in them, and invest in getting to know how they are going about things. The positive impact of timely coaching can be exponential.

The other important thing that Sachin's "rookie" story brought back to me was "Reverse Mentoring/Coaching" - learning from the new generation. Any parent will tell you that a child lets you know how it wants to be held straightaway...no qualms about the age and experience gap. Parents have to be sensitive - listen and learn. Apparently, so did Sachin coach upwards as a rookie in the Indian Cricket Team...and his seniors were accommodating.

Reverse Coaching/Mentoring
Rarely practiced in a targeted manner, inputs from younger team members are mostly papered over in 360 degree feedback data and perhaps some Q&A after leadership talks. Needless to say, it is very valuable to enrol younger members of your team in specific "teach-me/tell-me" sessions and listen - to learn quickly in todays fast changing world. But, I would ask leaders who want to get into this reverse-learning-mode, to maintain some safeguards:
1. Make sure there is a specific objective to be achieved for yourself, to start with.
2. Be certain that the relatively younger 'reverse-coach' is an expert on the subject matter.
3. Invest time up-front to make the 'reverse-coach' comfortable.
4. In session, don't be a boss. Start from scratch. Submit to the coaching style. Experiment. Ask. Confirm progress.
5. Keep to schedule. Do not truncate meetings (due to 'more' important boss-like things to do).
6. Keep to a deadline - try and get to the finish line ASAP.

Remember dear leaders, while you are having fun learning new tricks, your reverse-coach might be under stress preparing for the meetings and keeping up to the schedule. So, be sensitive like a parent, while learning experientially (and fast) like a child would. And advice for all the wannabe reverse-coaches/mentors - make sure you invert the logic in #1/2 above before you venture out to coach your boss/senior ...weigh your expertise in the area you think you can help them grow and focus on something you know you can achieve.

Like I said, I am glad Sachin chose to highlight the importance of being a good listener, always willing to learn, and a team player to win the day, rather than waxing eloquent on the transition from being coached to becoming a coach. The best advice, at the right time, can come from anyone - we just need to be receptive...in the moment.

Picture taken at the "Meet Sachin" Event @ Singapore Cricket Club

More about Sachin @ https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Sachin_Tendulkar