Are you avoiding being coached?

Some salespeople hide when it’s time for their coaching session.

Granted, a coaching relationship can be very revealing as it gets ”up close and personal.” A good coach digs deep to understand not so much how the salesperson is selling but his or her motivation, values and past experiences. But if we’ve received some negative coaching in the past, the experience may have marked us, which explains why we may be resistant to coaching. Here is a checklist to determine if you are avoiding being coached:

1. Defensive behavior–It is difficult to listen to any type of constructive feedback when we are defensive or come from a place where we are panicked.

2. Know-it-all–Just giving lip-service that you will change your behavior isn’t enough.

3. Comfort zone–Just because something has always worked in the past doesn’t mean you can’t try somethinig new.

4. Perception versus Reality–When your perception is so distorted that you refuse to listen to another point of view.

5. Low self-esteem–Our confidence takes a beating when we are out there making calls and this impacts our productivity. 

Look at coaching as a gift. If someone takes the time to learn about you and help you develop, that is valuable. Tomorrow, we’ll discuss qualities that make a good coach. Please submit your comments on this.