A coach explains how to listen without jumping in to fix things. Ask questions instead of correcting, let people work through their own thoughts, and watch them change their behavior on their own.
So here's my challenge for you this week is the next time someone brings you an issue or there's a problem-solving conversation going on, or maybe even an innovation or idea creation going on, sit back and simply be curious, listen for understanding, allow them to work through, dialogue, debate, collaborate on whatever the situation might be. Ask questions to help guide them, fill in the gaps, course correct them as needed without saying you're off course, but ask powerful questions and then see what happens. See what the outcome— watch for how they change, how they behave, how they respond to that, especially if they're not used to it and they start looking at you as if, okay, are you ever going to say anything? And even if someone makes a comment like, Bernadette, aren't you going to say something? You simply say, no, continue, continue talking and I'll interject when appropriate or when needed. I challenge you to sit back. Be curious, ask questions, and build that trust within your team that regardless of how cold or hot the conversation might be, or what the conversation might be, you're there to lend a coaching hand and allow them to get to the endpoint on their own. And I trust that you'll be very pleasantly surprised on the outcome or the response.
From Stuck to Leading, Episode 2 — Meet the 5 Inner Fears Destroying Your Leadership
