Coaching brings to mind someone pacing up and down the sidelines at a sporting event, perhaps signaling to players what should be done; calling time out to confer with players; shuttling people on and off the field to "send in the play from the sidelines." The implication contained in this scenario is that the coach has "all the answers" and that the players are expected to use their skills to execute whatever play the coach deems most appropriate for the existing circumstances.
Coaching, as it occurs in the workplace, is somewhat different. The most effective coaches may be seen behaving more like a parent helping their child prepare for an important test the child must take at school. In this situation, a parent would never think to give their child all the answers. Similarly, the parent realizes that, in the final analysis, the child is the one who must actually assess the problems or questions presented, decide on the best answer, and then provide the answer in a manner that will be clear to the person who will be grading the test. Parents would be quick to say, "If I give them the answers they might get a good grade on the test, but what will they really learn?"
