Friday, February 4, 2011

Coaching and Encouragement

Encouraging the heart is about coaching people through life. Everyone needs a bit of coaching from time to time.  Everyone needs direction from someone who has been in the trenches and knows about the hard knocks in life.  Quite frankly I don't want someone coaching me who has never made a mistake or has never seen hard days.  Why?  Because they no idea how to navigate through the storms of life.

Coaching someone through the storms of life requires empathy and understanding.  Empathy is not sympathy.   Emphaty understands the thoughts, feelings and attitudes of a person.  Notice I said "understands".  With understanding is accountability.  Empathy understands but also helps a person be accountable to craft a plan.  Sympathy says I am sorry...end of story.

Encouraging the heart requires accountability.  That is why coaching and encouraging go hand in hand.  When you encourage you coach.  Good coaching requires accountability from the person being encouraged or coached. 

OK...so how to you encourage and coach?  follow these principles:
1. Listen-Actively listen to what is being said
2. Watch-Watch for the opportunity to give correct words of instruction
3. Act-Do tangible things to encourage
4. Follow Through
6. Hold Accountable
7. Empower

Just my thoughts on coaching and encouraging. So...look for someone to encourage today.  You will be a better person for it.

Be Encouraged,
Rick

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