12 Summary of Session 3

The main learning points from this session are:

1. You have examined the similarities between a coach–athlete relationship and a coach–coach developer relationship. You considered the extent to which a coach–coach developer relationship should resemble aspects of closeness, commitment, complementarity and co-orientation.
2. The principles of humanist practice to a coach developer role have been outlined, and you have considered how congruence, empathy and unconditional positive regard can create a growth promoting environment.
3. Planning the initial meeting with a coach that you will be about to support is crucial – it is a meeting that needs to be carefully thought through.
4. Balancing the challenges you deliver to coaches in developing their practice with the support you provide is a skilled process that evolves and changes over time and is specific to each coach you work with.
5. Trust and empathy are important components of successful learning relationships – they can be the bedrock on which coaches learn and develop their practice.
6. Becoming aware that mistakes are integral to learning – provided they are reflected on and accepted as opportunities to learn and develop. Mistakes only become opportunities to learn if they are perceived in this way.

This session has covered important elements associated with the process of building effective learning relationships. However, one element is missing. All relationships are structured by forms of power, and the coach–coach developer relationship is no exception.

In the next session you begin to explore the influence of power and the consequences this has for your self-awareness as a coach developer.

You can now go to Session 4. [Tip: hold Ctrl and click a link to open it in a new tab. (Hide tip)]