Webinar Review: Micro-Coaching

Micro-coaching takes the successful elements of formal coaching and applies them to situations where a more immediate result is needed.

Micro-Coaching Webinar

The presenter of the Micro-coaching webinar was Ray Jimenez, PhD, the chief learning architect for VignettesLearning.com has been in the learning industry for over 25 years. He is an international consultant and author on e-Learning systems and instructional development. Dr. Jimenez worked Top Fortune 500 companies and medium size organizations - including Cisco, Microsoft, Boeing, Countrywide Home Loans, Dollar Tree Stores and others. - From the Vignettes Learning website

Vignettes Learning company is an e-learning and technology services company which assists clients to develop and convert content to online learning, implement Learning Management Systems and learning platforms. - From the Vignettes Learning website

The webinar focused on micro-coaching, when the formal coaching process may not be effective or expedient.

Formal Coaching Process

Formal coaching consists of four main processes: Identify and define goals, Define strategies to reach goals, Establish timeline and milestones, and Follow-up/Monitor plan for action.

Formal coaching is challenged by:

• Virtual environments
• Event-driven actions
• Rapid change
• Unwilling participants
• Variation from schedule

 

Micro-Coaching

Micro-coaching takes the successful elements of formal coaching and applies them to situations where a more immediate result is needed.

Opportunities for micro-coaching

• Quick assist
• Least effort
• Minimal time
• Most effective

Assumptions of micro-coaching

• Every work situation is a learning opportunity
• Help learners/workers discover answers
• Help learners/workers to self-coach
• Help learners demonstrate work

Scripts for Micro-Coaching

Roger Schank developed a theory that our minds use scripts – routines or algorithms – to rapidly solve problems. The two micro-coaching scripts below are based on these scripting theories. The coaching process should focus on which question is most relevant to the current situation.

Script questions for discovery

• Are you meeting your goals?
• What do you know now?
• What should you know more?
• How to you go about it?
• How do others experience the same situation?

Script questions for fixing & improving things

• What results are you getting?
• What does your customer say (internal or external)?
• What is the history and what are you hearing?
• How efficient are you in the process and production?
• What is the quality and cost of your resources?