Article: Learning, Not Teaching

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An occasional newsletter that delivers creative, practical and cross-culturally relevant articles and book reviews on leadership and coaching topics, to help you bridge the knowing-doing gap.

Learning, Not Teaching
by Dr. Keith E. Webb
December 8, 2006

"What is coaching?"

For me coaching is about learning, not teaching. Here's why I say that:

Coaching is an ongoing conversation that empowers a person or team to fully live out God's calling—in their life and profession. The goal of coaching is to develop a person or team to more effectively reflect, correct, and generate new learning. It's learning new ways to learn, listening to the heart and the Holy Spirit, and taking action to reshape their lives around that learning.

Maybe you can relate to Winston Churchill when he said, "I am always ready to learn although I do not always like being taught."

Coaching is an advanced form of adult learning. Adults learn better through dialogue and discovery rather than someone teaching them. Advice-giving is kept to a minimum so that the coachee can discover Holy Spirit-inspired solutions.

How about you?

Would others characterize you more as a learner or a teacher?
In what ways do you help others learn, instead of teaching them?
How do you encourage Holy Spirit-inspired solutions?

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Dr. Keith E. Webb is a trainer and experienced cross-cultural leadership coach helping organizations, teams, and individuals multiply their cross-cultural impact. Find free articles at http://www.CreativeResultsManagement.com.