Seven Characteristics of Great Coaches
By Jeb Blount
Coaches are cheerleaders, advisers, motivators, sounding boards, a foot in the rear, and sometimes therapists. The best coaches will push you, frustrate you, but will never give up on you, even if sometimes, you give up on yourself. They have the courage to deal with you truthfully, in a direct and non-judgmental way, and they will stick with you on your journey, teaching, motivating, and encouraging you to win. They act as a human mirror showing you an outside, unbiased perspective of your behavior and actions. Most importantly, coaches ask powerful questions that shake you out of your comfort zone and challenge you to dream.
Through my research and interviews I’ve identified seven key characteristics to look for in coaches.
Passionate: They are passionate about growing people and they have a willingness to believe in thepotential for greatness in all people. They are motivational, and they love life.
Optimistic: They are optimistic risk takers who are willing to move out of their own comfort zones to help you. They are willing to say, "I don’t know," and explore where and how to learn what is needed to help you move towards your personal and professional goals.
Visionary: They are visionaries who can keep sight of the big picture even while they are deep in the details. They have a global view of the world around them.
Confident: They exude confidence, even when unsure and are resilient when life knocks them down.
Authentic: They are authentic and genuine and will relate to you on your level. They have high integrity. They will always put you first and will never compromise your relationship for their own gain.
Studious: They seek knowledge and work on their own personal development. They live to learn and teach but they clearly understand the distinction and balance between knowing and doing.
Empathic: They are great listeners who hear with their ears, eyes and heart. They have a unique ability to empathize and step into your shoes. However, they will not allow you to live in the past. Their focus is on developing the future.
