You may be surprised to learn that many people who seek coaching are better-than-average writers. Sometimes they want to target a particular problem, such as how to organize a large writing project they’ve never handled before. Sometimes their boss has asked them to write more correctly or quickly. In other cases, they’re not satisfied with average or even good: they want to reduce the stress they feel when writing or be recognized as effective communicators.
| Problem | Solution |
| A promising executive couldn’t be promoted unless his writing skills improved. | After a writing consultant helped him adapt standard report formats to his audience, his reports became a model for his peers. |
| A manager spent time correcting an employee’s grammar errors instead of giving feedback on content. | A writing consultant developed proofreading strategies and a way to get feedback on concepts rather than commas. |
| An employee needed to improve her proofing skills. | A writing coach developed an individualized review of grammar fundamentals. |
| A manager who had to write for the company blog agonized over each entry. | A writing coach helped her manage stress and find ideas to write about. |
Who can benefit from coaching?
Each case is different, but they have these elements in common:
- Goals are individualized, depending on what the person being coached wants to accomplish.
- The coach builds confidence by providing constructive feedback and opportunities to practice what is learned.
- The person being coached learns models and strategies that can be applied in other situations.
Think of coaching as your chance to learn what you wish you’d learned in English class. You can also think of it as a way to advance: by developing your skills to a higher level, you can also advance your career.
Still not sure whether you could benefit from coaching? Take this free self-test: Do I need coaching?
