February 21 2022
By: Shawn M. Galloway
"Coaching is a form of development in which an experienced person, called a coach, supports a learner or client in achieving a specific personal or professional goal by providing training and guidance... Occasionally, coaching may mean an informal relationship between two people, of whom one has more experience and expertise than the other and offers advice and guidance as the latter learns."" That was the definition found on Wikipedia. I chose this reference because it is more than an academic perspective; it is crowdsourced and agreed on by masses, and with no mention of discipline, progressive or otherwise.
I am hired to coach leaders on their impact on safety performance and culture. I help them perform at their best or lead their teams to perform with excellence. It is a strategic and thought-out financial investment; I don't coach for free. Coaching is not a tool for discipline, nor should this phrase be used. Yet, many companies and consultants that advise the first step of progressive discipline is called coaching, verbal or a written note. Constant and excessive use of coaching to address disciplinary-related offensives creates shame and guilt throughout the organization and does not promote healthy self-growth to improve one's performance.
For every bit of verbal feedback you give someone on their behavior, be sure you are providing just as many and just as often for their desirable behavior. If coaching is viewed as a bad or dirty word in your organization, you are doing it wrong.
"The interesting thing about coaching is that you have to trouble the comfortable, and comfort the troubled." - Ric Charlesworth
"All coaching is, is taking a player where he can't take himself." - Bill McCartney
Shawn M. Galloway is the CEO of ProAct Safety and an advisor to leading organizations across all major industries. With over twenty years of experience in safety systems, strategy, culture, leadership, and employee engagement, he is a trusted advisor, keynote speaker, and expert witness.
He is the author of several bestselling books and has multiple regular columns in leading magazines, with over 400 articles and 100 videos to his credit. He also created the first safety podcast, Safety Culture Excellence, with over 800 episodes. Shawn has received numerous prestigious accolades and has been featured in Power 101 Leaders of the EHS World, Top 50 People Who Most Influenced EHS, Top 40 Rising Stars, Top 11 Health and Safety Influencers, and Top 10 Speakers.
He serves on the Harvard Business Review Advisory Council and the Fast Company Executive Board. He has appeared as a guest on Bloomberg, Fox News, The Daily Mail, Dubai One, U.S. News & World Report, Sirius Business Radio, Wharton Business Daily, and leading safety magazines and podcasts, reinforcing his status as an authority in the field of safety excellence.
For more information, call +1.936.273.8700 or email info@ProActSafety.com.
