What does it meant to be coachable?
It’s not a reflection of intelligence, capacity, or talent. Brilliant players frequently run into difficulty because they are not open to being coached.
According to Ruben Guzman, there are four stages of coachability.
- Not Coachable
- Selectively Coachable
- Reluctantly Coachable
- Completely Coachable
1. Not Coachable:
Someone who is not coachable is not interested in listening to a coach.
When I think of “not coachable” I think of Winston Churchill who was quoted as saying “I am always ready to learn although I am not always ready to be taught”
No one would question that Churchill had an amazing grasp of the English language and a compelling way of influencing people through seemingly impossible situations. Yet with all of his talent and capacity he was unwilling to listen to others, unless it was his idea.
If you’re not coachable, hiring a coach would be like teaching a pig to sing.
2. Selectively Coachable
If you’re “Selectively Coachable,” you will listen to the coach when the coach agrees with you.
When I think about someone being selectively coachable, I think of Randy Moss or Terrell Owens
Even if you’re not a big sports fan, you have probably heard of these phenomenally talented players who seem to run into trouble over and over again. You might think they are “not coachable” but they must be coachable at some level. There’s no way they would have made it to the NFL, and to that level of success without some willingness to be coached. If you’re “Selectively Coachable” I would suggest you wait before looking for a coach. (Randy Moss has played for 3 teams so far during the 2010 NFL season.)
3. Reluctantly Coachable
Someone who is “Reluctantly Coachable” is willing to listen to a coach, and do what the coach says even when he or she disagrees with what the coach has to say. This person is uncertain of the wisdom of the coaches’ recommendations but is willing to follow their guidance. To the extent that they trust the coach, they begin to see improvement.
4. Completely Coachable
Someone who is completely coachable entrusts their success to the wisdom of the coach. This is rare, but it can be seen in the lives of Olympic Champions. It is the foundation of transformational achievement and opens the doorway to possibilities which were previously unimagined.
The question you have to ask yourself is “Where am I today in the levels of coachability?”
Even if you’re a 2 today, but are committed to moving to a 3, I’d think seriously about starting a coaching relationship. If you’re a 3 today and want to move to a 4, what are you waiting for? Give me a call for a free initial coaching session!
240–668-4799
tom@brighthillgroup.com
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