Basic Coaching Techniques for Emerging Quality Coaches
Gitte Ottosen
Expert Test Consultant – Key2Quality, Denmark
\The quality coach is becoming a role that is more and more in demand across IT organizations. As new coaches venture into the industry, grounding their approach in proven and essential coaching techniques is essential.
We start the discussion with the definition of a ‘quality coach,’ emphasizing the core competencies that are aligned with successful outcomes. The presentation will introduce you to practical tools and techniques to implement these foundational coaching strategies effectively.
- Active listening: Harnessing the power of non-verbal cues, and fostering an environment of empathy and understanding.
- Questioning techniques: Developing a knack for questions that elicit critical thinking and self-awareness, facilitating the coachee’s journey of self-discovery.
- Building trust and rapport: Establishing trust and rapport is the cornerstone of effective coaching relationships. We will explore strategies for building and maintaining trust, and creating a safe space for open and honest dialogue.
- Goal setting: Setting clear and achievable goals is essential for progress. Understand the principles of SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) goal setting and how to work collaboratively with coaches to establish objectives that drive results.
- Feedback and reflection: Enabling a culture of constructive feedback and encouraging reflective practices for sustained development.
About Me!
Gitte Ottosen is a test manager and quality coach with a strong focus on a value-driven approach to software development. She has more than 28 years of experience in IT, primarily within test, test management, and process improvement, in both traditional and agile contexts. She is focusing on supporting a quality mindset across teams and organizations in Denmark. As a self-confessed test and agile evangelist who preaches the need for a strong quality and value-driven focus, Gitte is a strong advocate for a context-driven approach, a role requiring profound professional insight, passion, and persistence – qualities that she holds in abundance. Gitte is a dedicated trainer within the areas of agile and test, and is a regular speaker at international conferences. She is a trained Master coach, and also holds several certificates within testing as well as agile: ISTQB Expert Level Test Management – Full, Certified agile tester (CAT), TMap Test Engineer, TMAP Organizing Built-in Quality at Scale, Certified SCRUM Master, and SAFe Program Consultant.