What do coaching and flying have in common?
Coaching and flying can both be either exciting, or a bit scary, depending on your viewpoint. But they have more in common than that. They both require a take off, flight and a landing.
Coaching conversations start by discussing and agreeing an intention. This is the take off. We both need to be clear on the work that needs to be done in the time available. You may sometimes need a bit of time to work this out - sometimes it takes some reflection to get to the real challenge, but it’s important that this is done, however long it takes. If you don’t know where you’re going, how will you know when you’ve got there? Occasionally, especially at the start of a new coaching journey, this can take the majority of session 1.
Next is the work itself - the flight. This is when I will handover the controls to you, and become co-pilot, checking in on the direction, the progress, asking questions and feeding back observations, reflections and intuitions. You are at the helm, taking responsibility for your own progress.
Sometimes this section can be hard to navigate. There are no road signs or markings to show you’re on the right flight path, just a vast blue sky. This is where trust is needed. Between the pilot and co-pilot (you and me), and in the coaching process.
When the destination is in sight, I’ll guide the session towards landing. We’ll check in to review progress against the objective, and help you to reflect on what you’ve uncovered during the session. I’ll help you prepare to take these insights into the real world by considering what support might be needed, or what obstacles may get in the way. And then I’ll respectfully close the session and turn off the seatbelt signs.
For you as coachee, the real adventure start when you get off the plane and begin your journey beyond the coaching session.
Coaching is a one way flight, towards a better future.
Photo by Maria Cassagne on Unsplash