Observation: Low Self Esteem

Signs: Aggression, Being Emotional, Hypocrisy, Insecurity, Being Distant, Reserved, Inability to contribute, Self-deprecating, Self-Harming, Not a team member.

Possible Causes: Body image issues, Academic credibility, Need for external validation, Feeling like your always wrong, Constant negative feedback, Struggles with positive feedback, Self-medication.

Techniques / Tips:

–      Sincerity: Always ensure that praise and positivity is delivered with sincerity.

–      Where could they give praise: How could you encourage them to praise other members of their team.

–       Give positive feedback: As a coach you may want to approach with sincere and positive feedback and identify other areas the coachee could feedback and validation.

–      Identify areas to increase positive feedback and validation from senior staff:

–      Empower to lead: Help the person to facilitate small sessions in a safe environment and possibly pair with the scrum master and/or coach. Scrum and Retrospective are good starting places.

–      Open up on your own vulnerabilities: It may be of benefit for the coach to empathise with the coachee where they may have experienced similar conditions. It’s important to note that this is a pull situation and the coachee has to request information rather than the coach push it.

–      Identify the peaks and troughs: What’s different about when you’re feeling good and when you’re feeling bad.

–      Like-minded people: Explore ways for the coachee to seek out like minded individuals or suggest some introductions if you know.

–      Emotional Crutch: A physical break is supported by a physical crutch. When there’s an emotional break, explore options whereby the coachee can find a emotional crutch.

Warnings:

–      Continued or unchanged behaviour: This could indicate that the selected path isn’t working so we should for other signs and approaches to help the coachee better.

–      Be aware of confidentiality: Coaching sessions are a safe and confidential environment. Remember this, but be prepared to break this due to safety concerns to the coachee or as a result of the coachee’s suggested actions.

–      The “Friendship” zone: Be wary of personal relationships developing as this could impact the effectiveness, and possibly the safety, of the coaching environment.