Coaching: An Introductory Overview...

Coaching is where it's at. At least according to a number of sources. A recent survey in the US showed that it was among the top 3 growth professions. The popularising of the term has led to the well meaning and sometimes the unscrupulous to re-invent themselves. In business, managers have sometimes been expected to become coaches overnight. Consultants have re-named themselves as coaches. Life coaches are popping up everywhere. So, there is a chance that coaching can become misrepresented, applied ineffectively and dismissed as not living up to expectations.

So - this is the backdrop for a series of articles on Coaching which will appear in People Development News over the next few months. We believe that coaching is here to stay. We use coaching in many of our assignments and we have seen the impact it can make to individuals and organisations. But:

• What exactly is coaching?
• How does it differ from mentoring or counselling?
• How is it being used in business?
• How does coaching take place?
• What are the benefits of coaching?
• What do I do if I want a coach or require coaching as a training solution in my organisation?

I will attempt to answer some of these questions over the next few months. And, indeed, I will be happy to answer any questions that you might have on the subject. At least I will attempt to...

First, a story. Everyone likes a story:

"Some years ago I was holidaying on the Cornish coast. I woke up to the sound of seagulls outside the cottage and it wasn't until I was up and awake that I realised it was only 6.15 a.m. I decided on a stroll on the beach. As I watched the sun rise and heard the ocean waves crashing on the shore, I noticed in the distance something most unusual. As I walked closer I saw that I was right - there were thousands of starfish that had been washed up and were now perishing in the early morning heat. Further down the beach I noticed a young woman. She was picking up starfish and throwing them back into the ocean one at a time. She was working quickly, but carefully. When I was close enough to her to be heard above the roar of the waves, I said: 'Surely you are wasting your time. There must be thousands of starfish on the beach. You won't make any difference.' The young woman reached down and threw another starfish far out into the sea, glanced up to me and smiled: 'I made a difference to that one', she said, reaching down to pick up another."

What is coaching?

Coaching can be defined as an ongoing partnership that helps people produce fulfilling results in their personal and professional lives.

Coaching, at its best, addresses the whole person and works towards sustainable life-changing behaviour. The emphasis is on producing action, delivering results, improving performance, delivering more fulfilment, more balance and a more effective process for professional and personal life.

Coaching, defined by Sir John Whitmore, in 'Coaching for Performance' is:

'Unlocking a person's potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teach'.

What does coaching concentrate on?

Anything that is important to the client in the present. Topics might include:

• Managing time
• Building more purposeful relationships
• Presenting
• Managing
• Leadership
• Selling
• Creating outcomes
• Decision making
• Self-motivation
• Career
• Health
• Achieving more

Typically coaching takes place face to face, on the telephone or via e-mail. Often the relationship starts with a 1-2 hour face to face meeting and is supplemented by weekly or fortnightly telephone calls. Email can be useful resource between formal sessions.

In my next article we will look in more detail at how a coaching interaction takes place and how coaching is different to mentoring and counselling.

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hr TEAM recently designed a coaching development programme for a leading IT solutions provider...

There are several aspects to the programme. For example it involves:

• exploring what mentoring and coaching are
• introducing a coaching model
• looking at the benefits of coaching for the individuals and the business
• discussing and practising the communication, influencing and behavioural skills required for effective coaching
• developing a strategy to encourage and implement a coaching culture

To discuss our experience in providing coaching and any coaching requirements you have in your organisation, contact us today on 01435 865 711.