Words of Encouragement – Are You “Coachable”?
Are you looking for a breakthrough or revelation? Life-changing events usually take place when we let them. Unfortunately, this doesn’t happen often. We need to be coachable in order to evaluate what is going on around us and accept any constructive criticism that may head our way.
Constructive criticism is defined as:
Criticism or advice that is useful and intended to help or improve something, often with an offer of possible solutions
When we are coachable, we don’t become defensive when people offer alternative solutions or disagree with us. If we put up an invisible wall anytime someone offers help, we may miss crucial information that can allow us to achieve the breakthrough we desire. The key in all of this is to be able to discern when someone is offering good advice and when someone is merely stating an opinion that has nothing to do with our goals. People are entitled to their opinions and it’s good to respect that, but we don’t need to absorb negativity.
“Opinion noted but not necessary.” -James Francis
When you can openly discuss your strengths and weaknesses it’s easier to maintain a realistic point of view. With that in mind, here are a few ways to tell if you are not coachable:
- If someone offers an idea you put up a defensive barrier
- You try to do everything on your own. Asking for help is a sign of weakness.
- You have no interest in being coached. You know more than ______.
- We don’t realize we have any weaknesses. Those that we do know about are never discussed.
- Any time someone makes a suggestion, you take it personally.
- No matter how helpful the idea may be, it is instantly dismissed. Proven facts are considered negative opinions.
- You must be right at all times!
If we want to correct this issue, we must realize in order to achieve our goals we will need to be highly coachable. There is no point in trying to reinvent the wheel when there is someone who has been there before. Unfortunately the obsession most people have with being right is ingrained in us through our education system. We are constantly punished for any mistakes. The reality of the matter is, those mistakes have the potential to provide the needed experience to find a solution.
We must ask for coaching and constantly stay in the mindset of learning new things. Talk about the things that matter to you with someone who is knowledgeable.
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