By David Hemery

What does being Performer Centred mean?

Past focus has been on imposing technical proficiency through demonstration and sharing best practice - nothing wrong with that, you say, and I agree. However what coaches need to recognise is the downside of getting stuck only instructing; the performer becomes dependent on the instructor and in the heat of competition our performers need to be self and situation aware and self-responsible. The answer is to add to our sharing of best practice, the skill of asking questions that generate awareness and responsibility in the performer.

The benefits to the performers, of coaches asking effective questioning and listening attentively and empathically, are huge. Any one of these is worth having. The performers' feel involved, valued and heard. They grow and learn for themselves as well as taking our input. Their self-belief and self-confidence are increased as they recognise their own learning and development, and the quality of relationship is enhanced between the coach and performer.

Communication, where we start with the performer's interest and awareness before we add our own, i.e. questioning and inputting, I call the coaching dance. It is the 'how to' of empowerment - and who does not want that for the next generation?

Here is a graphic illustration: