How to Coach Engineers, Designers and…
We live in a world of technology and specialization, so it’s no surprise that many people need coaching to improve their success in highly technical situations. To help them, you must augment the techniques that work for coaching generalists.
Here are some ideas to help you do a better job when coaching technical specialists:
Motivational Profile
Technical specialists – think circuit designers, refinery engineers, and so forth – are likely to have a passion for some unusual, narrowly-defined aspect of their jobs. They may be exceedingly interested in raising the quality of factory output, or fascinated by the calculations and judgments required to complete certain tasks. They may get an “adrenalin” rush from performing intricate physical operations, or may lose track of time while delving into the details of phenomena or processes totally unknown to you.
As a result of their highly targeted passions, technical specialists are likely to focus on that “favored” part of the job.
Not surprisingly, they may neglect some of their less interesting responsibilities, including perhaps the kind of administrative and organization- or client-oriented work needed to succeed in most careers.
One key to successful coaching of technical specialists is therefore to utilize your understanding of their motivational profile to help redirect your client’s highest levels of passion and zeal toward what now may seem “boring” or “trivial.”
Establish Rapport and Respect
Another critical element in successfully coaching technical specialists is the level of rapport and respect you can build. That’s why your listening skills are particularly crucial. With the right relationship, you can often get a technical specialist to follow your lead into previously unexplored or unpleasant territory. Without it, your ideas are easily lost in the everyday “background noise.”
It’s often helpful to think of coaching technical specialists along a series of stepping stones. One bit of credibility can lead to another.
You may be able to win your “technical specialist” client’s respect by helping her get additional resources she needs to do her job the way she likes it done.
For example, one coach was able to help her client talk his boss into purchasing a much-desired piece of electronic calibration equipment. Later, she used this success as ammunition to help her client bring that boss some important production and inventory reports on time – which immediately had favorable repercussions for her client’s career. You may also build your credibility by exploring savvy suggestions for navigating corporate politics.
An important basis for rapport is your willingness to listen carefully to your client’s exploits and difficulties.
Another is your effort to understand his work, anticipating his problems and appreciating his solutions, or displaying in-depth awareness of your client’s unconscious preferences and passions. Assuming you have enough background, it’s also helpful if you can learn enough to communicate on your client’s level – in his language – not yours.
Once you have built a rapport, you can more easily help your technical specialist clients address any elements in their work and environment that may have restrained and constricted their careers.
Cristina Madeira, Certified Executive and Team Coach by ICF
