What You Can Learn from Cycling to Build Stronger Coaching Partnerships
Posted on April 23, 2020 by Mathew Riley, One of Thousands of Life Coaches on Noomii.
This helps to clarify the different developmental roles one can take as a helper, using learning to ride a bicycle as the metaphor.
Helpers can take any of several Developmental Roles to provide help to others. Learning to ride a bicycle provides an excellent metaphor for each of the roles.
The Consultant brings expertise. They know the mechanics of riding the bike. They teach how a bike is propelled; what is necessary for balance; the laws of momentum and gravity. They tell you where it’s best to sit, where to put your feet and when to pedal. The consultant may recommend a program of training for you. They may deliver the program with recommendations for ongoing development. When the consultant leaves, and the ongoing implementation is up to you.
The Therapist has expertise in helping you come to terms with your past. They ask about your history with riding a bike. They listen to hear if your desire to ride a bike is “healthy or unhealthy.” They examine the basis for your concerns or fears about riding and potentially falling. They may discuss topics such as, if your parents rode, and why that might be important, or influence your desire and ability to ride. They then explain why it is important for your self-esteem or psyche to learn this background and how to help it help you be successful. They encourage you to work through your fears.
The Parent has responsibility for your well-being. They usually buy the bike for you. They may put on training wheels and take them off when they think you are ready. They run with you while you are first on the bike, holding on until you have enough balance to continue, and then cheer you on as you go riding off into the sunset. They may threaten to take away riding privileges if you don’t comply with the ground rules of the household.
The Mentor shares their experience and expertise of bike riding and how they did it successfully. They give you tips on ‘drafting’ and the most effective way to ride. They model the way they think you should ride, based on the way they did it. They give you their strategies about things like changing tires quickly in a race, how to get the most speed for your effort, what the best bike is in their opinion and how to negotiate gravel at the bottom of a hill. They teach you their version of proper bike maintenance and warn you of the dangers of riding in traffic. They offer their ‘best practices’ about how to avoid pitfalls. They sometimes convey an, “I know better than you since I’ve been there before, so you’d better listen to me,” position.
The Coach has expertise in listening to what you really want, asking questions to clarify your thinking, and helping you determine what you want to accomplish. They listen to your desire to try riding the bicycle. They ask you if you need instructions on how to ride and where you might get them. They inquire if you like the color or kind of bike you’re about to ride. They may check in with you to see if you are enjoying the experience and what might make it more fun or more useful. They explore how riding a bike fits with previous and current goals or with what you truly want out of life. They will help you ascertain what you need in order to take care of yourself when or if you fall. When you stop your ride, the coach might ask about your experience, what was valuable about it, and whether or not you want to attain mastery of bike riding. If you do, the coach helps you devise a plan whereby you can attain that mastery. If you don’t, then the coach may help you devise a plan to sell the bike.
