Do you do most of your coaching in 1-1s? You're probably not making the impact you could.

Here's why.

Imagine if football teams did all their coaching in film study. That's the equivalent of doing most of your coaching in 1-1s. I'm not saying that coaching in 1-1s is helpful, but it's not where the impact happens.

Real change from coaching happens in the moment. As the leader, you have to witness the details and circumstances of the coaching opportunity. Moreso, the person you're leading will absorb and learn better in the moment because they'll have the opportunity to either immediately adjust or concretely associate a correction with specifics making it stick.

A football coach is right there adjusting positions, making play changes, and providing players feedback right after plays.

A piano teacher makes technique corrections and nuanced changes in phrasing as a pianist plays a piece.

My tennis coach was right there correcting my swing, adjusting my stance, and providing tactical feedback immediately after shots were made.

You have to be in the moments where coaching opportunities exist. If you're hearing about coaching opportunities only when other leaders or your direct reports are bringing them to you, then you're not going to be effective in creating change in them.

Here are possible moments where you can coach in the moment:

Get in the team meetings and see how they are being led
See how they are working through breaking down problems
Observe how they are interacting with people where there is conflict
Work through projection numbers people are working through
Build presentations with team members rather than only give feedback after the fact

You're probably asking that these examples "don't scale", but that would not be true. I'm all about delegating work and outcomes, but if those people aren't effective in getting the job done then help them get the job done. Develop and grow people. I get it if they don't have the capacity to get it, but it doesn't excuse you from spending the time to develop people.

Don't rely on 1-1s to do your coaching. Be in the moments where coaching can be quick, specific, and actionable.

Next Best Decision

The best coaching happens in the moment