Listening and Observing as a Coach

One day I found myself explaining the phases of the moon to a child. We were sitting in front of the computer at night and I got an idea. I turned off the lights in the room, leaving the monitor glowing in front of us. I told the child to imagine that the monitor was the sun and that he was the earth. I became the moon and orbited around him. I told him to observe how the light changed across my face as I circled him. I was a full moon when he was between me and the monitor. I was a half moon when I was to the left or right of him. He loved the demonstration!

An experienced coach knows the common pitfalls and sources of confusion in his area of expertise. He asks good questions and listens or observes so he can determine where his help might be needed. An experienced coach then knows good ways to explain his subject. It may be a tip. It may be a live demonstration. A good coach is constantly trying to come up with better examples, analogies and metaphors.