ABS Audio Newsletter: Effective Communication In Coaching and Beyond
Issue 28: Communication is Paramount: Coach Austin's Perspective
ISSUE 28:
Why is our ability to community is paramount to our success when being coached, in a relationship or performing a job or duty?
Welcome to the 28th edition of the ABS audio newsletter. Today we will discuss a more general and big picture concept. That is communication and, more accurately, effective communication. As you probably already know, this ability impacts life far beyond the confines of fitness and coaching. Let us explore a few of the coaching implications.
Firstly, lets begin with the initial consultation. The initial consultation is a first opportunity to discuss the status, goals, and past history with a client. Clear and concise communication is vital so we can set the stage. Clearly defining goals, working through dietary limitations (intolerances, allergies), past injury history, and timelines for progress are all immensely critical to understand from a coaching perspective. Additionally, setting coaching and client expectations is very important so everyone is aware of what each party is responsible for.
Now that we’ve set the stage what happens during the coaching process? For me, personally, I operate on an anytime communication policy. This means clients are welcomed to message me at anytime and I will generally respond within 60 minutes unless otherwise stated. There, of course, need to be some boundaries to maintain a healthy work/life balance. That being said I’m the kind of person that likes getting back to folks swiftly and getting their questions answered. That’s something I value and I believe others do as well.
What other communicative strategies do I employ in my coaching practice?
Lets answer this in a bit more detail related to programming considerations below!
The outline of our conversation:
1. General intro.
2. My take on the current state of communication between individuals.
3. How I want my clients and I communicate during coaching.
4. Why we should strive to be effective communicators.
5. Experiences and frustrations with poor communication.
6. Special Announcement and motivation sendoff!
I greatly appreciate your viewership; catch you all in the comments. Stay tuned for the 29th issue next week!