Socrates the Coach

How to improve your coaching

Socrates coaching

The following quote comes from “ “The Consolations of Philosophy“” by Alain de Botton and is a discourse between Socrates and his friend Crito.

Socrates: When a man… is taking (his training) seriously, does he pay attention to all praise and criticism and opinion indiscriminately, or only when it comes from the one qualified person, the actual doctor or trainer?

Crito: Only when it comes from the one qualified person. 

Socrates: Then he should be afraid of the criticism and welcome the praise of the one qualified person, but not those of the general public. 

Crito: Obviously. 

Socrates: he ought to regulate his actions and exercises and eating and drinking by the judgement of his instructor, who has expert knowledge, not by opinions of the rest of the public.  

Questioning the status quo

Socrates challenged the then prevailing Athenian beliefs by looking at each of them logically. Just because something has always been done a certain way, by the majority of the population, does not mean that it is correct. 

Socrates compared living without thinking systematically about what you are doing and why as trying to make a pot or shoe just from having a hunch. You have to know the actual process behind making a shoe or a pot, it doesn’t just happen. The same approach should be taken to perform your actions in life. 

Think about this before you undertake your next Coaching or training session- why are you doing what you are doing?