The True Role of Agile Coaching
Agile coaching exists to help individuals, leaders, and teams overcome challenges and shift behaviours to improve agility. A great coach listens deeply, shows empathy, and guides others to discover their own solutions. When coaches focus on listening and observation, they empower teams and individuals to solve problems themselves—an advantageous outcome.
Why Listening Matters in Coaching
Effective coaching sessions gather insights and encourage coachees to find answers. In today’s world, where most meetings happen online, coaches need to be even more attentive. Digital distractions can easily disrupt the flow and hinder the thinking required for progress.
The book "Co-Active Coaching" by Henry and Karen Kimsey-House, Sandhal, and Whitworth introduces three levels of listening:
- Level 1: The coach focuses on themselves, pushing their own agenda. They don’t truly listen or observe. Instead, they offer what they think is best, rather than helping the team or individual find their own way. This approach contradicts the Agile Coaching Code of Ethics and erodes trust quickly.
- Levels 2 and 3: The coach listens attentively, tunes in to the coachee, and reads the room. They ask questions and reflect back, helping others find the answers on their own.
Coaching Gone Wrong
Recently, I heard about a situation that perfectly illustrates what not to do:
- The coach didn’t know the team’s sprint duration, even after six weeks with the group.
- They rarely attended team events and failed to understand the team’s dynamics.
- They tried to change the sprint length without context or discussion.
- They offered no meaningful observations.
- They presented their own solutions without engaging in honest dialogue.
The result? The team completely shut the coach out. Team members questioned the coach’s value and saw the sessions as self-serving. In just one 30-minute call, the coach lost credibility and created a major barrier to progress.
How to Avoid These Pitfalls
Read "Co-Active Coaching" if you want to become an effective coach. Learn to listen, observe, and guide—rather than dictate. Build trust by focusing on the team’s needs, not your own agenda. When you help others find their own answers, you unlock true growth and agility.
Bottom line: Great agile coaches listen first, guide second, and always prioritize the team’s needs over their own. That’s how you build trust, drive improvement, and make a lasting impact.