When The Student Teaches The Coach
- Robert de Loryn
- Jun 15
- 2 min read
One of the greatest myths about coaching is that all the learning flows in one
direction.
In reality, some of the most powerful coaching moments occur when the student
teaches the coach.
Recently, during an executive coaching session with a senior banking leader, we
were discussing a phrase that many people have heard before:
“Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.”
It is a strong principle and one that has stood the test of time.
As we explored its application in leadership and business, I noticed a slight
hesitation. The executive paused and asked whether he could challenge the
wording.
Of course, I encouraged him to.
His response was simple:
“What if we changed it to Proper Prior Preparation Promotes Peak Performance?”
I immediately smiled.
The meaning was similar, yet the mindset was completely different.
The original phrase focuses on avoiding failure. His version focuses on creating
success.
The original is defensive. His version is aspirational.
The original asks us to prevent poor outcomes. His version challenges us to pursue
exceptional ones.
What impressed me most was not the alternative wording itself.
What impressed me was the fact that he had the confidence to challenge the coach,
think critically about the concept, and adapt it to better suit his own leadership
philosophy.
That moment demonstrated something every great coach hopes to see.
The coaching was no longer a discussion taking place during a session.
It had become embedded in his thinking.
He was no longer simply consuming ideas. He was building on them.
Research from the International Coaching Federation has consistently shown that
coaching improves self-awareness, critical thinking, confidence, decision-making,
and leadership effectiveness. The best coaching does not create dependency. It
develops independent thinking and greater personal ownership.
That is the true value of coaching.
A great coach does not provide all the answers.
A great coach helps people discover better questions, challenge assumptions,
develop new perspectives, and unlock insights they may never have reached on
their own.
The most rewarding moments for any coach are often not when the coachee agrees
with them.
They occur when the coachee respectfully challenges an idea, improves it, and
creates something even more powerful.
At RDL, this is one of the outcomes we are most passionate about.
Whether coaching emerging leaders, executives, CEOs, or Board members, the goal
is never to create followers of a framework or methodology.
The goal is to develop confident thinkers who can adapt, innovate, challenge
respectfully, and lead effectively in their own way.
Looking back, the lesson from that coaching session was simple.
Proper Prior Preparation Prevents Poor Performance.
Proper Prior Preparation Promotes Peak Performance.
Both are true.
Yet the fact that the student saw something the coach did not may have been the
most valuable lesson of all.
Thank you so much to the coachee that brought this to light.
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