What's the formula to be a great Coach?

What’s the formula to be a great coach?

In the market today we have a number of??train the trainer workshops ; also, numerous state of the art??coach certification programs doing the rounds; some of them??are exceptional and the knowledge one gains is inspirational.

I myself have attended numerous certification programs and this has been the firm foundation on which I truly began my learning and coaching journey.

However, as I look back into the last decade and a half I ask myself this question time and again as to what makes a great coach and facilitator?

So what is it that really matters and what is the magic formula.

Many people have various theories like age, experience, university, attitude, knowledge etc.

All this does play some role but for me it’s negligible..

In my??mind it’s just five simple steps:

1. Work with a Coach

2. To be Vulnerable

3. Compassion

4. To??Let go

5. Create space to include

1.??Work with a Coach

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?As I went deep into the coaching space and completed over 600 hours, I realized, that coaching isn’t a one-time transactional process ; to really see the difference and grow one needs to be engage in this space long term.

As I journey as a coach working with people across the globe; I realised what truly keeps me rooted and strong is working with my??own coach.

This is my way to keep clearing my very own cob webs every week; experience being a client also have an opportunity to??imbibe new??methods which really empower me in my??journey.

As a coach one needs to have enough space to include others; this can only happen when one creates space for themselves.

The only way to do this is to keep clearing and cleaning .

This isn’t a one time job but a constant and continuous journey; the first step being is to sign up for being a life- long student.

1.???To be??Vulnerable

While working with my coach I realised that there are many stories from my life both personal and professional which needed a lot of attention and work.

Just going deeper into the conversations and making observations, reflecting and working through this was essential in clearing up the space.

Once I was able to work through this it was very transformative.

The essential step here is to speak about it and clearly state the progress made.

To allow ourselves to be vulnerable and share. Vulnerability is an authentic and pure space??and I’m of the opinion??that this is the birth space for creativity, innovation and ideation.?

It’s a sacred space and if we’re in the role of a coach we definitely need to visit this location.

2.????Compassion???

When we role reverse and someone else plays the coach and we’re the client??we’re able to??realize and understand which techniques and tools aid us as a learner and what hampers learning.

We’re able to understand the difficulties the client could have and bring a more holistic and integrated methodology to our own coaching experience.

It gives us an opportunity to be on the other side ; a tool which enables us to connect with Compassion as an emotion.

This is an integral emotion and as a coach we need to build our very own relationship with this emotion.

3.???To let go

?I realised as I went through this journey certain behaviours which were unproductive and??in my blind I was able to be more conscious and become a witness to this and slowly bring change.

It was difficult but I could actually see how I started transforming slowly and steadily.

My landscape completely changed even my relationships??and career??took a completely new trajectory.

It’s imperative to let go and be flexible and open to change.

In??a couple of years??of working with coach I felt like I was born again and the old Jasmine was a memory in a distant dream.

I myself have difficulty recognising her sometimes; however, she’s a part of me which I have accepted?completely and she resides very dearly in my heart.

5??Create space and include

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When I coach or facilitate a workshop??many a times we’re helping people work through certain obstacles and drive change.

This for me is the penny drop moment.

To be an excellent facilitator one needs to first practice what they preach.

This is the moment, where sharing an example of how I??did it and the result it got me could create miracles.

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In my opinion the way to being a great coach or facilitator is to first become a student, apply, share, and??create space for others.

In my journey I’ve seen miracles happen in this space; not just once but time and again.

To be an excellent coach one needs to make??space to include others; one can only include if they create space by letting go of their excess baggage so they can help others with their luggage from one destination??to another.

Jasmine Suri

Coach and facilitator Lego Serious Play