working with a mentor coach
by Nina East
If you are considering hiring a mentor coach, then you are already committed to your professional growth and to delivering outstanding service to your clients. A strong, effective working relationship is essential for you to learn and grow and ultimately it's best for your clients as well.
The relationship you have with your mentor coach will be different from your relationship with other coaches you may hire. Your mentor coach will be helping you practice, expand, and refine your coaching skill. For this reason, a mentor coach is more like a trainer or teacher, providing clear, specific supervision and instruction on coaching methods and style.
Selecting a mentor coach can be an exciting and daunting project. Not only do you have to identify the right person(s) to work with based on your specific needs, you also have to build an effective relationship. For many coaches, this is the first time they have hired another coach, and it is important to know what to expect. This will help you make the right hiring decision.
So what should you expect from a mentor coach?
A good mentor coach gives direct feedback with specific examples and clear alternatives. You may need to prepare for this. Mentor coaches, while kind and compassionate, are there to help you improve your skills and the results you are getting with clients. If you tend toward the sensitive side, discuss this with the prospective mentor and get a feel for their style.
A good mentor coach tells it like it is. It is imperative that a mentor coach is comfortable giving you the tough feedback and doing so in a way that is helpful and productive. You should expect your mentor coach to support their points with clear, specific examples. They should be able to tell you what is working—and why it is working. Likewise, they need to be able to tell you what is not working and why. If they can't do this concisely and directly, they may not be the best mentor coach.
A good mentor coaching relationship is a clearly defined relationship. Without clear definition, there is too much room for misunderstanding and unmet expectations. The experienced mentor coach will initiate this discussion at the beginning. You'll need to know at least: How often will you meet? How often can you contact your mentor between sessions? How will you receive feedback (written, oral, or a combination)? Be sure the mentor you select makes defining the relationship an early priority.
Good mentor coaches hold themselves to high standards. The best ones continue to work on their skill development, as well as personal and professional development. Ask your prospective mentors what they do for their own professional development. They should be able to answer this easily. Hopefully their answer will inspire you as well. Most of them will have mentors or a highly accountable mastermind peer group.
A good mentor coach helps you choose what to focus on during a coaching session. A mentor coach is what I like to call an "intimate outsider." They are outside your business, but have an intimate knowledge of your coaching and its effectiveness. They are committed to your success, and so collaborate with you in designing the mentor sessions. While you should always arrive prepared, your mentor should as well.
A good mentor coach has the ability to transition the relationship when appropriate. At some point, you and your mentor coach will stop being mentor and protégé, and the relationship will transform into something else. Often mentors and protégés become peers or collaborators on projects. Sometimes the goals of the relationship are met and it is time to find a new mentor. Either way, you should expect your mentor coach to handle this with grace and ease. The best mentor coaches will talk about this at the beginning of the relationship. They won't be making any promises, but they will talk about the possible "exit scenarios," which will give you an even greater sense of their integrity and style.
Be clear about your goals. Establish bench marks for the process. Be prepared for your sessions, and take advantage of the process. The right mentor coaching relationship can make your business blossom.
This article was previously published in the IAC VOICE newsletter http://www.certifiedcoach.org/news/newsletters.htm
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