Reflecting on the New Year: The Impact of Great Coaching

A new year is a natural time to reflect on the present moment and look forward with anticipation to the future. During this time of year, I often think about our team who contributes and curates our culture here at DISHER.

Our team values High Expectations, Trusting Relationships, and Unvarnished Communication, among nine other culture characteristics you can read about here. These values are most evident in our coaching relationships.

The Essence of a Coach

We all can agree that a good coach is hard to find. If you played a sport, learned an instrument, or grown in a role, you have likely experienced someone who had a positive influence on your development and life. Perhaps they even held the title of coach.

These individuals, no matter what you called them, were our coaches. They were in our corner, invited us into their lives, and challenged us to become everything we should be.

Throughout life, being a coach and being coached is a privilege and a gift.

What IS / IS-NOT a Coach?

Before diving into the specifics, let’s begin with some definitions. What is a coach? In engineering circles, there is a root cause analysis tool which is related to Kepner-Tregoe’s Specification Statement.

We use this at DISHER to help our clients solve problems. We usually refer to it as: IS / IS-NOT. What IS something and what IS it NOT? Applying this to coaching, what IS a coach? What ISN’T a coach? (Tip: It is almost always easier to start with the IS NOTs.)

What a Coach IS NOT:

• A friend who encourages
• A teacher who lectures
• An expert who informs
• A consultant who advises
• A mentor who guides
• A pastor who reassures
• A leader who commands
• A counselor who supports
• …etc.

What a Coach IS

Coaching has a bit of each of these roles, but it is not completely defined by any one of them. So, what IS a coach? A short working definition I like goes like this: a coach is someone who invites and challenges another person.

Expanding the Concept

Let’s expand on that simple definition a little. A coach creates and provides cultural context in the present through the dual acts of invitation and challenge to help someone else toward their successful future.

When taken in this context, our common conception of a sports coach holds true. The coach is the leader of many players at once.

The coach helps to create a cultural context and presently invites players into that context while envisioning a picture of the future.

The coach also invites players to growth by challenging them to improve in tangible ways for the future of winning a game or a championship.

For example, a football coach sets up a practice schedule, plans drills, and gives feedback on technique. Even during the game, a coach provides real-time input while challenging the players to see and create the desired future. Even in a loss, a player is better because of the coach’s attention and input.

When contrasted to the IS-NOT list, a good coach does indeed blend a unique set of skills to support growth in others.

Coaching at DISHER

At DISHER, we don’t have any bosses; we have coaches. Our coaches help each teammate and the collective DISHER team grow in alignment with our mission to Make a Positive Difference. A successful coach focuses on four key aspects:

• The present. A coach must be fully engaged with their team members. This means understanding their current challenges, strengths, and areas for growth. Effective coaching starts with building rapport and trust. This is essential for any meaningful relationship. At DISHER, we emphasize the importance of caring deeply for our team members and growing in our own emotional intelligence as coaches as well.
• The future. A coach helps team members envision their potential future and set achievable goals. This involves strategic conversations about career plans, personal growth, and professional development. A goal setting tool is often helpful in this process, guiding discussions on personal life updates, career strategy, stewardship, influence, and training opportunities.
• Invitation. Coaching is about creating a welcoming environment where team members feel valued and supported. At DISHER, this starts even before a new teammate’s first day. Coaches take part in the sending of welcome notes and connecting individually to ensure they feel part of the team immediately. During the onboarding process, coaches play a crucial role in helping new teammates understand DISHER’s culture, expectations, and the resources available to them.
• Challenge. This is the other side of the coaching coin. It involves pushing team members out of their comfort zones and encouraging them to strive for excellence. This can be through setting High Expectations, providing constructive and/or Unvarnished Communication, and supporting them in overcoming obstacles. At DISHER, coaches are trained to ask insightful questions, provide real-time feedback, and help team members navigate their many different projects. This balanced approach helps our team members to continuously grow.

Bringing It All Together

Effective coaching, therefore, is a blend of art and science. It requires a deep commitment to caring for team members, a strategic approach to their development, and a balance of invitation and challenge. At DISHER, fostering Trusting Relationships, encouraging High Expectations, and practicing Unvarnished Communication helps our team members develop and grow.

Our coaching philosophy is intertwined with Leading by DESIGN (LbD) which emphasizes intentional, empathetic, and strategic leadership.

LbD guides participants in how to be consistent and authentic in their leadership, both in and out of the workplace. By practicing LbD principles, we also ensure our coaching is holistic, impactful, and aligned with our mission to Make a Positive Difference.

Combining the art and science of coaching with proven leadership principles, we aim to create an environment where our team members, customers, and communities can thrive and achieve their full potential in 2025 and beyond!