“This gives me an idea!! instead of our session 11.30 today and tomorrow … do we do a cycling coaching session??? what say? Outdoors… a setting of choice for both of us ”

“Supperrr idea! I’m game! ”

WhatsApp Chat between Arvind and I

Arvind and I started on our coaching journey post successful completion of ‘Leader as a coach’ from TPC Leadership. Idea was to start with some peer coaching sessions and then this thought struck us!

Why not go cycling and conduct our coaching session?

A magnificent setting for thinking and reflection, for someone who cycles passionately and to add to it, the perfect backdrop of monsoon countryside!

As we rode down the country roads coaching and be coached, some practical lessons that we learned outside of a classroom environment –

1. Distractions

Trying to hear each other over the rushing sound of the headwind was not easy. We had to improvise and change the cycling position to hear clearly. 

So is the case when you do not have a ‘present’ setting for a coaching session. If you do not have a proper setting where you can listen undisturbed by the ‘noises’ both internal and external, you lose the advantage of effective coaching.

2. Keeping Pace

With two of us with different riding pace, the ‘coach’ had to match the pace to ensure both of us were in sync. So is the case in a coaching session. The coach has to match the pace of coachee to be in sync.

3. Course Correction

As we left Sohna Road and got onto the country roads, the ‘coach’ felt they have taken a wrong turn. Instead of making an explicit statement about it, the ‘coach’ gently asked the question couple of times at intersections till the ‘coachee’ himself made the course correction.

Isn’t that the case in a coaching session? The coach through powerful questioning enables the coachee to find options and course correct themselves.

4. Bad Patches

There were bad patches on the road where we had  to mutually decide to break pace, cross the patch, and reconvene. So is the case in a coaching session where you feel if the flow is changing, we spot contract, change course, and reconvene on the new path.

5. Reward

After a long and successful ride back, we both always take time to relax and rewards ourselves. That is where I was introduced to Bira white (beer!) for the first time. I guess I don’t have to explain a reward anymore after this apt example!

The same is in the case of a coaching session. Isn’t it? Once coachee gets to the point of firming up their action plans with respect to their goals, its good to reinforce their commitment by making them visualize the rewards, the feel-good factor, once they achieve their goals.

Conclusion

Looking at these analogies, I feel safe to say that coaching is about a logical flow of events that a coachee walks through, exploiting his or her own potential to find answers with the coach been a catalyst, asking all the right questions!

To quote our Mentor Coach, Pooja – “it’s not rocket science”

Until next…Keep listening… Keep asking!C