Did we get here by accident? Did any of us? I think others observed, trained and then coached us to where we are. They saw in us something powerful, something of value, maybe a part of themselves. During our early formative years our coaches were in the schools or the community, and as we grew older more employable they were our supervisors, bosses, and our peers. They’ve continuously observed, trained and coached us to greater heights. Obviously, this is a two-way street. We must be willing to be trained and coached. A few thoughts:
Observe:
Growing up in Mount Vernon, I had several who observed. They were Dr. Ken Fox, Maria Perez, Diana Best, Danny Reyes and many others along the way. Did they look the other way because they saw a troublemaker, a son of poor migrant farm workers or less than average student? No. They nominated me to attend migrant youth conferences, law & constitution forums, pre-law conferences, and national & regional MEChA conferences. They listened and observed enthusiastically, and intently. This focused skill is difficult, but done right, it saves lives and channels troublemakers towards realizing their passion. We must observe others all the time, determine if we can help and in what way, then take initiative and jump in… right then and there. Its totally A-OK, if we might not know the answer, but between two or more of us we might be able to solve whatever issue or task at hand between us. And, if you find yourself observing others and you might not know how to handle it, it’s OK to bring subject-matter experts in. It’s why they are there.
Train:
Train as if you are replacing yourself. Growing up these guys got me really involved. Danny for instance taught me most of what I know in community-organizing, grassroots marketing, leading farm workers in marches, and at a young age got me involved in running meetings and chairing larger groups. I was not even eighteen, yet. Training is brutal, it takes time, but it’s a rewarding journey. Some argue that they may not be cut out for training others. That’s ridiculous. We all have our specialties, passions and expertise, and training others on these comes naturally. We can all do it. Getting folks trained up in those passions is the easy part. It’s the fun part.
Coach:
Coach your mentee as if your entire team depended on it. Surround yourself be it offline or online with people whose caliber you’d like to reach. Whose work you enjoy. Coach others whenever possible. Ask individuals to be your mentors, advisors and to coach you. Some may do it. Others because of hectic lives might say “no” the first time, but remain persistent. For a while, one of my close advisors, Jay Bloom and I, would meet up for early breakfasts in Portland. He’d commit to one hour monthly to help me cut through the noise, advise on our businesses, professional development, etc. Find your Jay, find several and do this monthly, and never stop communicating.
In 2010, technology is allowing us to observe, train and coach others beyond our geographic location. Not by coincidence, you are reading this blog on your computer or your smart phone. Find individuals online and offline, and contribute where possible. It’s rewarding. And, that’s what matters. If you are about to be coached, make it a two-way street.
David Molina is the Founder and CEO of BilingualHire, a consumer internet service focused on advancing the careers of bilingual [Spanish+ English] talent. You can also visit and connect with him at Twitter, Facebook, and/or Posterous.