« Return to blog main page
Like learning to ride a bike
by Randy Fernandes, CPCC, ACC
After coaching for more than six years, I finally found an analogy that effectively clarifies the difference between working with a coach and working with a consultant, therapist, mentor or advisor – learning to ride a bike. Here’s how each role might approach the challenge:
The Advisor meets with you, listens to your concerns and verifies your lack of bike riding skills is the real challenge (just in case you needed the justification). They research this challenge based upon their experience with riding bicycles (because their experience is best) and provides you with several options on how to learn to ride a bicycle depending upon the type of bicycle you choose. Then, the advisor provides these options to you in writing (if you have time to wait and enjoy paying a premium) or orally (if you want to take notes and pray you get it right the first time). You choose an option and move forward without looking back.
The Consultant takes the bicycle that you provide and figures out how to ride it. When they determine how to ride that bicycle, they create a slick professional report for you in a pretty binder complete with a table of contents, a colorful introduction page, detailed step-by-step instructions on how to ride the bicycle and a long bio about themselves at the end to remind you of their greatness. You read the instructions and contact the great consultant if you have any questions.
The Mentor takes your bicycle and shows you how to ride it the same way they learned how to ride their bicycle, because their way of learning is the “right” way. Next, they ride their own bike alongside you struggling to ride your bike, telling you what to do and informing you when you’re doing it “wrong”. The mentor continues this process until you are able to ride the bicycle all by yourself.
The Therapist will have you approach the bicycle, then stand back, notice the color, look at the shape and analyze the style of your chosen bicycle. Next, they focus on exploring your feelings about any past experiences with this or other bicycles. Why you have chosen this particular bicycle? Has it tossed you off in the past? If so, then why do you continue with the relationship? All this is explored before you begin to learn how to ride the bicycle. When you are ready, they set you free.
The Co-Active Coach welcomes you with big open arms and encourages you to get on your bicycle. They run or ride alongside as you determine the best way for you to learn to ride your bicycle because you know yourself better than anyone else. The Co-Active Coach encourages and supports your learning during the experience, helping you work through your resistance, without providing any hands-on assistance. You get to take it at your own pace. They encourage you to “be” with the bicycle and enjoy the entire learning experience while helping you hold the vision of your becoming a skilled bicyclist. The Co-Active Coach continues this process until you are able to happily ride the bike all by yourself.
Randy Fernandes, CPCC, ACC is a “Choice Leadership Coach” and owner of We All Make Choices Coaching. He works with executives, corporate management, and aspiring leaders to achieve their full leadership potential, who in turn, become leaders that empower others to do the same. Randy is reachable at weallmakechoices@yahoo.com or at http://randy-fernandes.blogspot.com/.
-
bethfollini
-
Tonio Grawe
-
Elena
-
Leslie Stein
-
Jennet
-
Anne Rose
-
Janet Blaha
-
Diana Loy
-
Debra Mo
Subscription Options:
