The renowned author and anthropologist Ashley Montagu once said, “In teaching, it is the method, not the content, that conveys the message—it’s about drawing out, not pouring in.”

Over the years, I’ve realized the truth of this statement: nothing can replace face-to-face, one-on-one coaching. Properly preparing for these sessions ensures a successful and meaningful outcome.

Here are a few suggestions you may find helpful in your preparation. Before your meeting, take a few minutes and do the following.

  • Review prior coaching sessions. What did you see? What did you learn?
  • What were the action steps?
  • Write down open-ended questions. Use active listening and inquiry.
  • Identify the purpose of the meeting.
  • Remind yourself to do less talking and more inquiry.
  • See yourself as their thinking partner.

We must be cautious about assuming we need to share our knowledge, as doing so can shift us from being a collaborative thought partner to simply acting as an instructor in their learning and development journey.

As a coaching leader, practicing active inquiry and active listening allows you to collaborate with your team members in the discovery and learning process. This connection creates an opportunity to inspire behavior change, which leads to better results—and improved results drive organizational growth. Isn’t that the ultimate goal?