Strategies to help people grow

Colleagues,
 
Yesterday I encouraged you to think about some strategies for helping others grow. I’d love to know what you came up with, but today we are focusing on my number one strategy for growing people: 5-minute coaching.
 
If I could apply just one strategy for growing my people, it would be to engage in 5-minute coaching on a daily basis. Five-minute coaching has five steps:

1. Begin with an acknowledgement of something positive related to a recent project, event, or task.
2. Ask: “What went well?”
3. Ask: “What surprised you?”
4. Ask: “What would you do differently?”
5. Close with a statement of optimism and/or an offer of support.

 
Tomorrow we will look at why this practice is so powerful, but I have a challenge for you today.
 
Please, engage in at least one 5-minute coaching session. Try it! The only cost is five minutes, and the only risk is losing five minutes. By practicing today, you’ll get more out of this email tomorrow.
 
If you aren’t going to engage in a 5-minute coaching session today, why not? If you can’t spare five minutes to help someone grow, what is your leadership really about? I don’t mean to offend you, but it is a fair question. If you can’t take five minutes to help someone grow, how is your organization going to get better?
 
Do good and be well,
 
Frederick