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Constant learning to grow. Paul's coaching experience
12/01/21
Paul works full-time as a Partner in Assurance, located in Bern, and shared with us his biggest learning out of the COVID-19 situation. Read the interview and discover more:
Why is coaching important for you?
When I started at PwC in 1991, I felt like, this being the beginning of a new chapter of my life, I would develop greatly and most effectively by learning from others. But over time I’ve learned that the best way to develop yourself is to begin developing other people. That’s where I learned the most also about myself. Helping others to develop themselves benefits both parties – you grow mutually. That’s why coaching is very important to me.
What is your coaching hack for new or other coaches and team leaders?
When starting your role as a coach, you should always be interested in your coachees’ real intentions. Find out, what your coachee wants to achieve in a short- or long-term period and why. This knowledge will make it much easier to coach people. Coaching, for me, means helping to align the personal objectives with the firm objectives in the best possible way.
How do you ensure having time for coaching sessions during your everyday work?
To be honest, I wish I had more time. I have a monthly 1:1 with my direct reports. I try to have a chat with all of my direct reports at least one hour once a month. I used to do that with the whole team. But since my team includes about 100 people, that becomes a bit challenging. As said: I wish I had more time.
How important do you consider giving and showing appreciation or recognition for your team? Do you have an example of such a situation?
Saying “Thank you” is a good start. It’s polite and shows that you actually listen, which is very important on an interpersonal level. But I think the best way Fto provide recognition is to trust in people and show them that I see that they are able to do more than they have already done so far. Giving people more challenging tasks shows them that they are capable of doing more than what they’ve done already, and will help them to develop the most. It is really important to let the people know that their work is appreciated, which often takes more than just saying “Thank you”.
What is your tip for others in the new normal?
For me the most terrible thing that could happen is people feeling excluded because of the social distancing. That’s why I made it my goal to talk to all 100 people in my team at least 15 minutes every month during the crisis by short calls. I want to make sure that in times where there might be less personal contact or even less work to concentrate on, everyone is still feeling well. A very valuable tip is the latest Suva recommendation: dance for 20 minutes at least 3 times a week! I personally can highly recommend that!
What is your biggest learning?
My biggest learning is not to judge people. We often judge what people do quickly, without knowing or understanding their intentions. In this time of crisis, but also in any other situation, it feels easy to point at things that are going wrong, or decisions that are being made. But unless you really understand the reason for these decisions, do not get irritated or frustrated. Always think the best in advance, at least until you're proven otherwise.
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