Meg Griffing, MA, CRC

To assist and support the community in overcoming mental, emotional and other challenges to a productive life, focusing on employment, economic stability and life skills.

COVA’s Mission

Who We Are – 25 Years of Results

COVA is a nationally recognized leader in vocational rehabilitation services for people with mental illnesses and other disabilities that pose a barrier to employment.

2,660 people served each year

200 employers served each year

60 employees

$4.4 million COVA’s annual budget

63 Ohio counties served by COVA

Coaching an All Star Team

“You get the best effort from others not by lighting a fire beneath them, but by building a fire within.“

Bob Nelson, football coach

• Trait approach– born leader

• Style leadership (The Ohio State University)– Country Club– Impoverished– Middle of the Road– Authority Compliance– Team Leadership

• Situational approach

Leadership & Coaching

• Skills can be acquired, learned and developed• Skills are different from traits• Skills are what leaders can accomplish whereas traits

are who leaders are (characteristics)• Effective leadership depends on three basic personal

skills– Technical– Human– Conceptual

Skills Based Leadership

• Sum the responses on the following to determine your skill score

• 1, 4, 7, 10, 13, & 16 = Technical

• 2, 5, 8, 11, 14, & 17 = Human

• 3, 6, 9, 12, 15, & 18 = Conceptual

Assessment Scoring

• Knowledge and proficiency in a particular specific type of work/activity

• Competencies in a specialized area, ability, use of tools or techniques

• Essential role in service delivery or production

Technical Skill

• Knowledge about and ability to work with people• Work effectively with subordinates, peers and

superiors to accomplish the organizations goals• Adapt their own ideas to those of others• Create an atmosphere of trust where employees feel

comfortable and secure and encourage to become involved

Human Skill

• Ability to work with ideas and concepts• Comfortable talking about the ideas that shape an

organization and the intricacies involved• Central to creating a vision and strategic plan for an

organization

Conceptual Skill

Top Middle Supervisory

Technical Human Conceptual

Skills Based Leadership

Coaching is…

Review problems & progress

Provide support & resources

Provide guidance & encouragement

Help others discover their personal strengths

Allow others a sense of power & purpose

“A good coach will make his players see what they can be rather

than what they are.” Ara Parseghian

• Management’s approach to attaining its objectives is controlling and directing.

• Standing on the sidelines• Screaming orders• Dictating play-by-play

schedules• Throwing in the towel

• Coaching attains its objectives through influence and leadership.

• Providing support• Encouraging feedback• Trusting team• Confidence in the ability of

employees

Coaching Is Not…

“Coaching is 90% attitude and 10% technique.” Author Unknown

• Management does not have all the answers.• Responsibility + Accountability + Encouragement =

Power• Good Listener and Uses Feedback Techniques• Goal Setting is a Priority• Put Yourself in Someone Else’s Shoes

Coaching Basics

“Coaches have to watch for what they don’t want to see and listen for what they don’t want to hear.” John Madden

• Gap Management (required as manager)• Build for the Future (required as coach)• 6 Steps to Strengthen Others

– A commitment from both parties to make it happen– Identification of what could be strengthened– Subsequent identification of a suitable strength to be passed on to

another– Frequent and ongoing communication– Recognition and appreciation that different people will learn at a

different pace, and in different ways– An appreciation by both parties of the importance of this effort and

how it fits into the bigger picture

• Teaching by Inclusion

Producing Champions

“Coaches have to watch for what they don’t want to see and listen for what they don’t want to hear.” John Madden

• Set a specific time period and length for session.• Define and agree on the goals for the session.• Start by asking a question that gets to the root of how

the employee feels about the particular task or project to be discussed.

• Listen actively throughout the session.• Offer support or acknowledge understanding of the

response.

Coaching Process

• Move the discussion continually in the direction of self-discovery.

• Repeat the process until the employee reaches the desired outcome.

• Give recognition where recognition is due.• Agree to the next step and set the groundwork for the

next coaching session.

Coaching Process con’t

• Cheerleader– Accentuates the positive & eliminate the negative

• Muse– Brings creative spark to team

• Counselor– Brings unique insight for solving problems

• Facilitator– Gets the job done through organization & delegation

• Devil’s Advocate– Focuses on the root of the problem and finding solutions

Team Member Roles

• Jealousy– Appreciate the work of each team member

• Cynicism– Emphasize the positive achievements to the group– Confront cynical employees to demand behavior change

• Defensiveness– Refocus conversation on task or issue being discussed– Patiently point out defensive behavior and reassure

Team Destroyers

• Creative process of problem solving• Members are comfortable challenging one another• Have a communication strategy in place to resolve

conflict• Encourage positive and respectful disagreement

Conflict

“The difference between the possible and the impossible lies in a man’s determination. Tommy Lasorda

• Makes an effort to keep employees informed• Discusses time frames and deadlines• Meets with employees periodically to discuss progress• Provides constructive feedback on a regular and

ongoing basis• Encourages employees to participate in setting goals• Provides training and support where new tasks are

involved• Involves employees in problem solving• Uses the talents and skills of all employees

A Good Coach…

• Celebrate when deadlines/milestones achieved• Announce in company newsletter• Plan an informal awards event• Recognition at agency meetings• Letter of recognition in personnel file

Recognizing Success

“People will exceed targets they set themselves.” Gordon Dryden

Leaders

The wicked leader is he who the people despise.

The good leader is he who the people revere.

The great leader is he who the people say, “we did it ourselves.”

Lao-Tzu, philosopher

• From a skills perspective, how would you describe the 3 managers (strengths, weaknesses)?

• What does each manager need to do to improve their skills?

• How can Andy best coach each manger to develop his own all star team?

Discussion Questions

• Vision is why. Goals are what.

• Vision empowers. Goals direct

• You must have a shared vision. Goals are specific to the role of each employee.

Vision

• Organizations that implements a coaching system:– Have a more confident and motivated workforce– Produce higher quality services and products– Have employees who can handle a broad range of

responsibilities– See an overall increase in efficiency and productivity

Coaching Benefits

“The test of a good coach is that when they leave, others will carry on successfully.” Author Unknown

Coaching an All Star Team

“I won’t accept anything less than the best a player’s capable of doing, and he has the right to expect the best that I can do for him and the team!“

Lou Holtz, football coach