#57: … I Have To Start Coaching…
Tuesday 9/17/24
“Catch them doing something right”
This was a quote that I heard all the time when I worked for Fossil. I had incredible leaders in that company and this was part of the core values. Now, it was many many years ago - like 2008-2015 so I do not know the origin of this idea, I'm sure they didn’t invent it but it is where I first encountered the sentiment.
It means what it says. Catch someone doing something right. How often do we catch or “uh oh!” someone when it goes wrong? Or do not take the note? The idea of catching someone means that they are a bit caught off guard as well. We need to flip it. People aren’t used to affirmative praise or reinforcement.
Catching someone doing it right means you are actively looking for an opportunity to affirm.
Just because you are a coach doesn’t mean you HAVE to have something to “fix”. You can absolutely say “wow… excellent”.
And when I say “say ‘wow thats excellent’” i mean cite a specific thing that was done well. “I know you’ve been struggling with that low A and wow - i just saw you do everything we reviewed - low breath, long jaw, dark tone, adjusted vowel- that was great keep going”.
Positive feedback also must be specific. Now, they KNOW what they did well. If they know what the y did well, they can duplicate it.
This came to me because I had a college prep student say to me “wow my voice teacher never says i do something well”.... That BROKE ME today.
Think about that: my voice teacher NEVER says i do something well”. That means this person she sees weekly for YEARS has never affirmed or reinforced her. How does someone know what to keep doing if you do not tell them? How are they motivated to sustain when they are constantly seeking your approval which you don’t give?
Give praise HARD AND LOUD AND OFTEN. Point blank: your job is to encourage. The definition of encourage is: give support and advice to (someone) so that they will do or continue to do something.
If you struggle with this, you need a plan and FAST. Your challenge today - right now - asap - is to CATCH SOMEONE DOING SOMETHING RIGHT TODAY.
If you have a coach that never affirms your work or improvements - please see jgcbookings.com
Dreams Don’t Die
Julie