What is Coaching
 |
- Coaching is a method for self-development through one-on-one conversations designed to help managers and leaders increase self-awareness and self-mastery and to make the best possible choices.
- Coaching is a guided journey through one's way of being in the world.
- Coaching can help leaders become aware of how they are perceived by others and whether their behavior is getting them the results that they want in their work and in their lives.
- Coaching is a process, not an event, because most human beings change over time. Even individuals who are committed to making changes in their attitudes and behaviors need some time to do so.
The Importance of Coaching in Organizations
- Coaching can be an important component of management and leadership development within an organization.
- Coaching can help leaders make critical changes in mindset and behavior when their jobs grow in scope or when they are preparing to take on new roles.
- Through coaching, managers can change and improve behaviors that affect their relationships and potential opportunities in their organizations.
- Coaching can support people working in a new culture, outside their home country, or with a diverse team in new surroundings.
- When combined with 360° feedback, coaching can be used to focus high-potential professionals on improving their communication and management skills in preparation for future career development.
How do you select a coach?
The coaching relationship is based on trust. Clients must believe that their coach is able to help them achieve their goals. A client may wish to interview several potential coaches to explore the views of each on different approaches to coaching. Clients need to find a coach with whom they can have the solid rapport needed to facilitate progress.
How is the coaching process structured? Once you've selected a coach, what happens next?
- The coach works with the client and his/her manager to create a coaching plan based on the outcomes that the client wants to achieve.
- Over a period of several months, the coach and client work together to achieve those goals. The more specific the desired outcomes, the better the possibility of achieving them. i.e. "Learn to give timely, constructive feedback and praise to direct reports" is far more achievable than "improve communication skills with staff."
- Coaching can happen in several ways. Ideally, the coach and client will meet face-to-face. Because this isn't always possible, coaching by telephone or video conference is also an option. Telephone conversations can be alternated with face-to-face meetings when travel schedules make it difficult for them to meet in person.
While the coach may give regular updates on coaching progress to HR or the client's manager, the coach will maintain complete confidentiality with the client. What does this mean? Whatever the client tells the coach will remain confidential, and the coach will report only on general topics and on progress toward the coaching objectives. Without this confidentiality, the coaching partnership would lack trust and could not function.
What happens in a coaching session?
The activities and contents of a coaching session depend on the needs of each client.
If a client wants to work on management skills, we may spend several sessions on the nuts and bolts of management: delegation, decision-making, organization, team development and the like. So some sessions can be mini-training programs. The same method might apply to some leadership skills.
If a client wants to build self-confidence, we will look at situations where the client feels a lack of confidence and how they may be perceived by others in those situations. Then we focus on building behaviors that demonstrate confidence and putting the client in situations to practice those new behaviors. Over time, the behaviors we repeat become part of who we are, expanding our range of responses and choices.
Shadow coaching or observational coaching is an excellent alternative to 360° feedback. The coach observes the client going about his/her daily work, interacting with colleagues, holding meetings, talking on the telephone and other routine activities. The coach then gives the client feedback on those observations, helping the client see any differences between the way they say they want to be and the way they actually behave.
^up
|
Please click here to contact Wise Resources | All Material © Wise Resources Limited -  , not to be reproduced or quoted without permission | Privacy Statement/Disclaimer | Website design & execution Creative Art Link |
