Coaching others to excellence has 4 secret ingredients - MOT (Moment of Truth), THP (There, Here, Path), ALA (Act, Learn, Adjust), and Persist. Moment of Truth (MOT) uses the structure of the other three.
MOT encourages performance excellence, and you dramatically enhance your ability to lead and coach when you use MOT. And one of the most overlooked elements is preparing for the MOT. But, Moment of Truth is just one of the 4 secret ingredients.
MOT - Moment of Truth
When you coach others to excellence, you don't manipulate or control them - you share the truth. Using the MOT tool is something every person needs, especially anyone in a leading or managing position. MOT is not some secret manager tool that only you know how to use. Everyone needs to know MOT. By the way, it is extremely useful at home, as well as at work.
Step 1: REALITY
This first step gets you and the other person on the same page. If both of you acknowledge the reality that expectations have not been met, it is easier to make corrections.
Step 2: STORY
You get to practice the two most valuable leadership skills - Listening and Asking Questions. Ask enough questions to analyze the entire situation. You don't need to spend hours on this conversation, though. Most MOTs can be handled in 3 to 5 minutes. But, it would be best if you asked enough questions to see the sequence of events on how the expectation was eventually missed.
Step 3: PLAN
Once you get the story, it is time for them to create an action plan. This plan is their agreement to make the necessary corrections. And, be careful; this is their responsibility. As they detail the plan, you listen and ask more questions.
Step 4: FEEDBACK
Finally, create a feedback system to be a resource for them. You don't do the work for them, but stay involved to help them do it better next time. In fact, it is good to give them a similar task or goal to achieve so that both of you can practice what you just discovered.
THP - There, Here, Path
THP or HTP (HERE, THERE, PATH) provides the structure to develop a plan. If you want to help someone increase their capacity, they need a clear end result (THERE) to focus on. They need something clear and measurable to know when they reach the next level of skill or performance. All of those statements are about THERE, the final destination.
The secret ingredient of THP is clarity about your destination - THERE! But, the current reality (HERE) must also be clear. With clarity, the PATH of actions is easier to see; even better, there is more energy and motivation to act. Review the "Right Process for Right Results" in course 1 - Value Right Results and People to get more details.
ALA - Act, Learn, Adjust
Each of these secret ingredients can work alone, but when you combine them, they are even more powerful. When you take the time to help them work through THP, they gain insight into what they want, enhancing their ability to start.
But, the PATH is often tricky, especially when some actions do not work. It is easy to only focus on that part of the PATH instead of THERE. That narrow focus on ineffective actions de-energizes, and creativity grinds to a halt.
That means the person no longer sees what they want - THERE!
That is where the secret ingredient ALA (Act - Learn - Adjust) helps create forward movement. Each step on the PATH adds or subtracts energy. Without ALA, actions that do not work can derail, and actions that do work are not leveraged.
Coaching helps people learn and adjust so that they stay focused on THERE. The rallying cry becomes "What are we learning?" which helps energize different and better actions to reach THERE.
PERSIST
Coaching others to excellence requires this last secret ingredient constantly, even though it is the final ingredient on the list. It is easy to see that persistence is needed when actions aren't working. But, it is also required when things are working. Both times can remove the focus on THERE. When things are working, it is easier to reduce effort and coast. Then when it stops working, it may be easier to give up. It is best to remain diligent and constantly focused on THERE, acting, learning, and adjusting to reach that end result.
Coaches are extremely helpful when they help people refocus on THERE and re-evaluate if they still want THERE. Remember, commitment is significant, but wanting to get THERE is better. When you coach others to excellence, you understand the difference and help others understand it.
Coaching others to excellence uses the power of all of the secret ingredients: THP, ALA, and Persist! And MOT helps you use them consistently.