"Coaching has to emanate from the heart rather than the head because people readily recognize the difference between the two."
The reason this is so important to business leaders, as Kelleher says, is because they will respond to coaching someone believes in more than they ever will to intellectual theories, which is what comes from the head.
What something coming from the heart implies is experience coming from passion.
When people see you have a passion for something, and have practically and experientially interacted with that passion, it draws them into what you're trying to coach them on.
I've noticed through the years, that even those that have a passion for something I'm not overtly interested in, draw me into their interests because you can feel their strong passion for what they do and believe in.
On the other hand, someone that partakes in the same interests that don't have their heart in something, come across as very disconnected from their field, and as a result don't make an impact nearly as strongly on you as those really into it.
It's not something you can fake either. So coaching from the heart underscores getting into a business or field we are truly passionate about.
As business leaders, the important thing is to be sure we're passionate in our coaching. Sometimes we can have a powerful passion about what we do, but hold back on expressing that passion when we're coaching people. That's the time especially we need to show how we feel.
Passion is contagious. It will go viral across a company and extend to our customers as a result. Coach in this real way and you'll find it not only creates a great place to work, but also make a huge difference in the bottom line.
Other Herb Kelleher Sources:
Leadership: The Essential Herb Kelleher
Speeches and Presentations from Southwest Leaders
Southwest Airlines: The Hottest Thing in the Sky
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