Do you find it difficult to think of specific examples during an interview?
During a coaching session, a client expressed difficulty in identifying a teamwork example using the STAR (Situation, Task, Action, Result) process. She initially claimed to work in standalone roles and believed she lacked relevant examples.
Challenge:
The client felt her work environment didn’t involve traditional team settings, making it challenging to pinpoint a suitable example for the coaching exercise.
Approach:
As her coach, I employed probing questions to uncover potential instances of collaboration or team-oriented activities within her role. The objective was to help her recognize and articulate teamwork experiences effectively.
Discovery:
Through structured questioning and memory-jogging techniques, the client recalled participating in team meetings with other standalone administrators across different branches. These meetings served as platforms for sharing best practices, company updates, operational changes, and general information vital to their roles. The administrators ensured comprehensive task coverage, facilitating seamless transitions during absences due to holidays or sickness.
Application of STAR Method:
- Situation: The client participated in regular team meetings with administrators from various branches.
- Task: Collaboratively sharing best practices, and company updates, and ensuring comprehensive task knowledge and coverage.
- Action: Actively engaging in discussions, contributing insights, and leveraging collective knowledge for improved operational efficiency.
- Result: Enhanced coordination among standalone administrators, better preparedness for operational challenges, and improved information flow across branches.
Outcome:
By reframing her understanding of teamwork to include these collaborative meetings, the client successfully identified a pertinent example that aligned with the STAR framework. This realization not only enriched her coaching experience but also broadened her perspective on teamwork within her standalone role.
Conclusion:
This case underscores the importance of exploring different facets of individual roles to uncover teamwork opportunities. Through effective coaching and questioning techniques, individuals can discover and articulate their contributions to collaborative efforts, even in seemingly independent positions. This approach not only enhances self-awareness but also promotes a deeper understanding of teamwork dynamics in diverse professional settings.
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Implications for Coaching:
Coaches can leverage similar techniques to help clients recognise and articulate teamwork experiences effectively, fostering a more comprehensive understanding of their professional contributions and capabilities.
My coaching methodology centres around structured questioning and probing techniques aimed at facilitating deeper exploration and understanding during coaching sessions.
Here’s an outline of my interview coaching approach:
1. Questioning Techniques:
• Purpose: I use questioning to uncover relevant information and insights that may not be immediately apparent.
• Application: By asking open-ended questions, it encourages clients to reflect, elaborate, and provide detailed responses, therefore, facilitating self-discovery and clarity.
2. Probing:
• Purpose: Probing allows me to delve deeper into clients’ responses to uncover underlying thoughts, experiences, and examples.
• Techniques: I employ probing techniques to ensure that clients have the opportunity to expand on their initial responses, providing evidence and context where necessary.
3. Client-Centered Approach:
• Focus: My interview coaching is client-centred, prioritising my client’s experiences, perspectives, and needs.
• Goal: By focusing on the client’s narrative and understanding, I help them articulate their thoughts, identify strengths, and recognize areas for growth.
4. Enhancing Self-Awareness:
• Outcome: Through structured questioning and probing, I aim to enhance clients’ self-awareness regarding their skills, experiences, and contributions.
• Impact: This process enables clients to articulate their abilities more effectively, particularly in contexts such as interviews where providing evidence and elaboration is crucial.
5. Facilitating Learning and Growth:
• Approach: My coaching style allows for learning and growth by encouraging clients to explore their experiences comprehensively.
• Result: Clients develop a deeper understanding of their capabilities and achievements, which can boost confidence and improve their ability to communicate effectively in professional settings.
6. Practical Application:
• Contextual Example: The case study demonstrates how my coaching methodology was applied to help a client recognize and articulate teamwork experiences effectively, despite initially perceiving her role as standalone.
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My coaching methodology is characterised by a client-centred approach, employing structured questioning and probing techniques to facilitate self-discovery, enhance self-awareness, and promote effective communication of strengths and experiences. This approach is particularly valuable in contexts, such as job interviews, where thorough exploration and evidence-based responses are critical for showcasing your qualifications and suitability for a role.
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