Coaching has become commonplace in the workplace these days and is most effective when it is a two-way street. You can coach and be coached no matter what your position in the organization, but providing constructive feedback to anyone can be difficult.

When done in a positive and constructive way coaching improves job performance, workplace relationships and promotes a more positive work environment. Coaching is all about one person helping another excel.

Here are some tips for coaching others:

• Consider the environment - you might want to find a private location to chat
• Use positive language
• Provide constructive feedback with specific examples of the behaviour
• Present more questions than answers.
• Challenge the person being coached to consider new perspectives and different approaches.

If you are being coached remember to:

• Use empathic listening
• Paraphrase
• Validate the perceptions you are being given
• Thank the person for providing the feedback.

For some, coaching is very uncomfortable especially when dealing with a personal issue such as personal hygiene or coaching a superior. The Practical Coach video offers a two-minute challenge and suggests the following:

1. State the problem
2. Pause and wait for a response
3. Remind the person of the problem and don’t get sidetracked
4. Ask for solutions
5. Agree to a path forward and follow up on it.

Coaching should:

• increase employees’ self esteem and confidence, leaving  them feeling motivated and committed to doing their best
• lead to team harmony
• be a lesson in self-improvement and self-discovery.

Be willing to coach and be coached in your workplace. Share some of your experiences with others. How did it make you feel the first time? Do you have tips for others to help them feel more comfortable and be better coaches? How has being coached helped you in your career development?