Orbital Training And Consulting Blog Catch a CAB for improved confidence, focus and performance

<p>"Footwork, bodywork, racketwork," bellows my tennis coach after another wayward shot. At the net, as I try not to look too puffed out, he says with conviction: "focus on getting into the best position to strike the ball. Once you improve your footwork and bodywork, we can turn our attention to how you hit the ball and where it goes".</p><p>This frustrating gap between where we'd like (or ought) to be and where we actually are is familiar to most of us. There is no substitute for getting the foundations right first because if we do this, the results and outcomes are more likely to follow suit. Those who apply themselves in this way, who learn from mistakes, who attribute learning and skills acquisition to this process of deliberate practice are much more likely to realise their potential and consistently achieve good outcomes.</p><p>In a nutshell, what a skillful coach does in most situations is help the other person (or people) to focus their attention on one thing at a time, with a goal in mind. Fantasizing about pinging powerful backhand winners down the line will not make them happen, just as looking in the mirror and saying "Raaarrrr, I'm a tiger" will not make you irresistible. If my footwork and bodywork are not right, I'll never be able to achieve the results I want. I might beat my equally mediocre mates but if I play against someone who has been coached and understands the rudiments of striking a ball, I will lose every time.</p><p>In work contexts coaching is less 'directive' than sports coaching can be and the coach is less likely to shout from across the table, drip sweat on the other person or (affectionately) call them a 'muppet'. The principles though are the same.</p><p>Whatever the context, the power of coaching is to help the other person to think and understand the process, sequences and underlying framework of something. It helps them focus attention on one issue at a time, explore options (e.g. do nothing, revisit, stop doing 'it', reframe it, do it differently, get on with it) and gives them the know-how, confidence and conviction to act.</p><p>The following model is one of dozens of micro-coaching tools that can help to guide a coaching interaction.</p><p><img class="left" src="http://orbitaltc.com/assets/Uploads/BobcraigCABmodel.png" width="590" height="447" alt="" title=""/></p><p>For more information about what coaching can do for individuals and organisations and how to develop the mindset, skills and behaviours of a coach, contact Bob and the Orbital Team on: info@orbitaltraining.co.uk / +44 (0)207 193 9661</p>