The Role of Observation in Coaching

You probably have a favorite photograph on your desk or at home, perhaps of a loved one or favorite vacation spot. Viewing such snapshots can bring back memories or evoke strong emotions. Yet, for someone unfamiliar with you or the circumstances surrounding the photograph, it is probably just seen as a nice image.

As this example suggests, individuals seldom focus deeper than what is shown in the picture in front of them. What if judgments on your life were made based on a brief snapshot of time, perhaps in a moment when you were not at your finest? As a person, to be truly understood you must be observed in a variety of settings, situations, and moods. The more time that you spend interacting with individuals, the more you begin to understand who they are and why they react as they do.

This week, you will consider the important role of observation in coaching and mentoring. Without taking the time and effort to carefully observe someone and attempt to appreciate him or her as an individual in a variety of settings and interactions, it is easy to make assumptions about behavior and fail to create a meaningful relationship built on understanding. You will explore how to effectively observe someone and how to use these observations to set goals that help others improve their capabilities and increase their knowledge.

We have a natural tendency to mix data and interpretation (Hunt and Weintraub, 2017). As a leader, we have to be able to observe and collect data in an unbiased manner. Tools, such as the Ladder of Inference, can be helpful in guarding against faulty assumptions that can negatively impact the data collected during an observation.

To prepare for this Discussion, review this week’s Learning Resource.
• Review this week’s Learning Resources, especially:
• The Ladder of Inference: Why we jump to conclusions (and how to avoid it) – Synergy Commons
• Using CLASS Data to Provide Effective Feedback – YouTube
• Observation vs. Inference: Identifying the Difference (yourdictionary.com)

Respond to at least two of your peers’ postings in one or more of the following ways:

• Do you agree or disagree that observation can influence change in the way described by your colleague?
• Why or why not?
• Build upon your colleague’s discussion by sharing an example of an assumption that could affect an observation.
• Explain how you could avoid that assumption.

Sample Solution