When planting a seed, you can only ever reap what you have sown.

A quote I heard during a conversation about workplace coaching was along the lines of:
“I plant the seed and see what grows”.
My first thought was: “if you plant an apple seed you will only ever grow apples”!

Upon further thought I realised that what the person was talking about was not workplace coaching but mentoring;  You want defined outcomes so you plant specific seeds.

True coaching is not about planting seeds that limit outcomes, but asking the right questions to help people realise the answers within themselves.  If you plant a dozen apple seeds the most you can expect is a dozen apple trees.  But, if you ask a dozen different people the right coaching questions you will get an infinite amount of possibilities!

A great coach will never sow seeds, but will instead uncover the seeds that are already buried within the fertile soil of the coachee; seeds of infinite possibilities!