Read Part IV “Coaching for Excellence” in your textbook.
Coaching is a vital skill for any supervisor. Answer the below questions.
1. Explain the difference between coaching and counseling (in your own words).
2. Select a person in your life (co-worker, friend, family member, or someone you know well). Have a coaching session with them and then answer the following questions:
a. Was it difficult to have a coaching session (did it turn into a counseling session)?
b. What was the hardest part of the session?
c. How would you recommend conducting a coaching session (what environment, how long, how to start, etc)?
3. Pick a TV show/movie or previous example from your own life of a coaching session gone horribly wrong. Describe the situation and what you would do differently (as the coach)
Sample solution
Dante Alighieri played a critical role in the literature world through his poem Divine Comedy that was written in the 14th century. The poem contains Inferno, Purgatorio, and Paradiso. The Inferno is a description of the nine circles of torment that are found on the earth. It depicts the realms of the people that have gone against the spiritual values and who, instead, have chosen bestial appetite, violence, or fraud and malice. The nine circles of hell are limbo, lust, gluttony, greed and wrath. Others are heresy, violence, fraud, and treachery. The purpose of this paper is to examine the Dante’s Inferno in the perspective of its portrayal of God’s image and the justification of hell.
In this epic poem, God is portrayed as a super being guilty of multiple weaknesses including being egotistic, unjust, and hypocritical. Dante, in this poem, depicts God as being more human than divine by challenging God’s omnipotence. Additionally, the manner in which Dante describes Hell is in full contradiction to the morals of God as written in the Bible. When god arranges Hell to flatter Himself, He commits egotism, a sin that is common among human beings (Cheney, 2016). The weakness is depicted in Limbo and on the Gate of Hell where, for instance, God sends those who do not worship Him to Hell. This implies that failure to worship Him is a sin.
God is also depicted as lacking justice in His actions thus removing the godly image. The injustice is portrayed by the manner in which the sodomites and opportunists are treated. The opportunists are subjected to banner chasing in their lives after death followed by being stung by insects and maggots. They are known to having done neither good nor bad during their lifetimes and, therefore, justice could have demanded that they be granted a neutral punishment having lived a neutral life. The sodomites are also punished unfairly by God when Brunetto Lattini is condemned to hell despite being a good leader (Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). While he commited sodomy, God chooses to ignore all the other good deeds that Brunetto did.
Finally, God is also portrayed as being hypocritical in His actions, a sin that further diminishes His godliness and makes Him more human. A case in point is when God condemns the sin of egotism and goes ahead to commit it repeatedly. Proverbs 29:23 states that “arrogance will bring your downfall, but if you are humble, you will be respected.” When Slattery condemns Dante’s human state as being weak, doubtful, and limited, he is proving God’s hypocrisy because He is also human (Verdicchio, 2015). The actions of God in Hell as portrayed by Dante are inconsistent with the Biblical literature. Both Dante and God are prone to making mistakes, something common among human beings thus making God more human.
To wrap it up, Dante portrays God is more human since He commits the same sins that humans commit: egotism, hypocrisy, and injustice. Hell is justified as being a destination for victims of the mistakes committed by God. The Hell is presented as being a totally different place as compared to what is written about it in the Bible. As a result, reading through the text gives an image of God who is prone to the very mistakes common to humans thus ripping Him off His lofty status of divine and, instead, making Him a mere human. Whether or not Dante did it intentionally is subject to debate but one thing is clear in the poem: the misconstrued notion of God is revealed to future generations.
References
Babor, T. F., McGovern, T., & Robaina, K. (2017). Dante’s inferno: Seven deadly sins in scientific publishing and how to avoid them. Addiction Science: A Guide for the Perplexed, 267.
Cheney, L. D. G. (2016). Illustrations for Dante’s Inferno: A Comparative Study of Sandro Botticelli, Giovanni Stradano, and Federico Zuccaro. Cultural and Religious Studies, 4(8), 487.
Verdicchio, M. (2015). Irony and Desire in Dante’s” Inferno” 27. Italica, 285-297.
Sample Answer
Sample Answer
Coaching vs. Counseling: A Supervisor’s Perspective
Coaching vs. Counseling
Coaching and counseling are both essential skills for supervisors, but they serve distinct purposes. Coaching focuses on enhancing performance, developing skills, and achieving specific goals by providing guidance, feedback, and support. It is future-oriented and aims to empower individuals to reach their full potential. On the other hand, counseling typically deals with addressing emotional issues, personal challenges, and past experiences to help individuals cope, heal, and grow. While coaching looks ahead and promotes growth, counseling delves into the past and assists in overcoming obstacles.
Coaching Session Reflection
Coachee: Sarah (Friend)
1. Difficulty Level: The coaching session with Sarah was relatively smooth, although at times, it veered slightly towards counseling when discussing personal obstacles.
2. Challenges Faced:
– The hardest part of the session was navigating sensitive topics without delving too deeply into personal issues.
3. Recommendations for a Coaching Session:
– Environment: Choose a private and comfortable setting to ensure confidentiality and focus.
– Duration: Aim for a session length of 30-60 minutes to maintain engagement and address key points.
– Starting Point: Begin by setting clear goals and expectations for the session to guide the conversation effectively.
Learning from Mistakes: A Coaching Session Gone Wrong
In the TV show “The Office,” Michael Scott attempts a coaching session with his employee, Toby Flenderson, which quickly spirals out of control. Michael’s lack of empathy, ineffective communication, and inappropriate jokes turn the coaching session into a disaster. As the coach, I would approach the situation differently by:
– Establishing a supportive and non-judgmental environment.
– Actively listening to Toby’s concerns and perspectives.
– Providing constructive feedback and actionable steps for improvement.
– Respecting boundaries and maintaining professionalism throughout the session.
