What Makes People Coachable?

- You're a manager, you've got a handful of talented people you want to coach and develop, and your time is precious. So, how do you determine where to invest your attention? Hi, I'm Lisa Gates, a negotiation consultant and executive coach and I want to share the attributes of coachable people so you can determine where to best focus your coaching energy. You'll have the most success with people who express a commitment to growth, people who take responsibility for their lives and careers, and love to learn. Coachable people are also receptive. They're self aware and can handle constructive criticism without becoming defensive. Coachable people are also able to broaden their perspectives to explore alternative ideas and methods, and consider integrating them into new possibilities and actions. In my experience, the one attribute that makes people coachable is openness. People who are open are willing to reveal where they're stuck and get real about the core of a problem, even if they're at the center of it. To test for openness, set a one on one and ask two questions. One, "What do you want to achieve in the next year or so?" And two, "What typically gets in the way of what you want?" if your employee resists or struggles with the answers, it doesn't mean they're not coachable, but it may mean they'll take a little more investment on your part. So, ask the two questions, do a little discovery, and you'll have some data that'll help you decide where to invest your time.