Yesterday’s Fresh Start was about what happens when coaches assume that their learners need to take ‘baby steps’. Another common assumption I run into quite often is that leaders – and especially executives – should need less support, or ‘nurturing’ while they’re practicing new skills and behaviors in the uncomfortable learning zone. However, a higher job grade or executive title doesn’t preclude the learner from being a human being. As a coach, it’s our responsibility to help our learners make constant, consistent progress, which means pushing them into the uncomfortable learning zone – and then ‘nurturing’ them as they learn by doing – no matter what job grade or title they have.
