I had a conversation with a good friend today who told me that a client thought he was giving more than he was getting from his coaching. At first this really bothered me… That is until I reflected on times when I had felt that way. What I found in that reflection was that in those times I usually was missing the learning because I was caught up in thinking that I had all the answers.
We all can learn from even the simplest of sources. Here’s an example… I’ve heard in Vermont, there’s a sign pointing to a remote road that a person needs to take to get to one of the most prestigious ski resorts. I don’t know for sure, but I would bet that sign has never been skiing or even to the resort but it sure as heck shows (teaches) the traveler how to get there. As a matter of fact, it tells with authority by saying “turn here!”
The legendary and sadly late basketball coach, John Wooden is said to have said, “It’s what you learn after you think you know it all that counts.”
I think that makes sense. We would all be well served to remember Coach Wooden’s philosophy and adopt it when we begin to feel we already know it all… ask yourself “What can I learn here, about myself or about others? Then notice the answers you hear. Zig Ziglar said, “when you point one finger in blame at someone or something else, there are three fingers pointing back at you.”
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