Comments on: How Not To Coach People

By: The Guide

The Guide — Mon, 19 Apr 2010 10:21:51 +0000

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By: Kim Gulnac

Kim Gulnac — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 21:30:43 +0000

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By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 16 Mar 2010 17:25:43 +0000

Thanks for you comment and keep reading!

By: Burton Haynes

Burton Haynes — Thu, 11 Mar 2010 20:09:23 +0000

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By: Richard

Richard — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 21:53:28 +0000

No, it’s for real. Sadly. Some people who call themselves a ‘coach’ really are taking money under false pretences and ought to stop. As Eric Berne said: “Above all else, do no harm.” He was right!

By: Garrett Prosonic

Garrett Prosonic — Sun, 07 Mar 2010 00:27:16 +0000

Lol you’re kidding right

By: Richard

Richard — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 14:19:39 +0000

Thanks for your comment Simon and I agree that the thing with outdoor stuff is to connect it back to working life. In my experience these activities are often run by outdoor experts who try to bolt-on the learning afterwards, rather than having it built it. This is different to being an expert in, say, leadership, who uses these activities to make learning memorable. I’ve had experience of several of these courses and only one was relevant to work (at The Leadership Trust). The others did more harm than good and were a waste of time and money. So, I wish you well in your efforts to stand up to the rubbish…if you come across any stories do let me know and I can add them to this blog. Good fortune to you and thanks again.

By: Simon Roskrow

Simon Roskrow — Tue, 02 Mar 2010 13:44:31 +0000

Fantastic stuff – if only more people would stand up to the sheer rubbish that is done in the name of coaching and training.

I was particularly interested in the “having learned to abseil, found that this wasn’t a great deal of help” comment. I actively use outdoor activities on about 50% on the courses I deliver, but the essential aspect has always got to be helping delegates translate what goes on into their real, actual, practical working environment. If not, it’s simply a nice (or, for some, nasty!) day out.

Part of me appreciates the benefit of other training companies not understanding this, but it is a real challenge to get the message across clearly that you are different, and not to allow your image to be muddied by the waters of others.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:46:02 +0000

Hi Gerry…good to hear from you and Crow would have made a fuss and refused to take part! Public humiliation is beyond belief as a means of ‘developing’ people, but sadly these things seem to still be with us.

By: Richard

Richard — Mon, 01 Mar 2010 10:43:03 +0000

Hi Margaret and thanks for the comment…I agree that the MD has been taken in by something which is patently unsafe! I too wish we could come up with another name for coaching and put some clear water between ourselves and the fluffy parts of the industry!