vetpad

Reading innovation centre is a great place – rooms labelled ‘Think 1′, creative messages all around, sticky velvet on the walls etc (pretty much like we set CARET up in 2001). We were invited by Megan Power to join government vets investigating people management. It struck me that the GROW model of coaching:

Goals – what do you want?
Reality – where are you now?
Options – what could you do?
Will – what will you do?

is as applicable to undergraduate learners as it is to professionals trying to get the best out of staff. For me, the big realisation of the day was that listening is one of the most difficult skills to master – especially in an environment where everyone is very busy – and that just listening and responding by reframing what you’ve heard is incredibly powerful.

Key coaching skills:
1. Ask effective questions
2. Listen actively
3. Give constructive feedback (do not give advice)