Coaching is a powerful process of learning, growth and development, focusing on improving performance and developing individual skills.
It is a collaborative relationship between a coach and their client, which enables, through a process of discovery, goal-setting and strategic actions, the actualisation of what they most want in their business unit, organisation and their lives.
It can be applied to individual leaders or within a group learning environment. With regard to one-to-one coaching of leaders, often referred to as executive or leadership coaching, it is often used by organisations when a leader has been appointed to a new role or has been identified for one in the near future.
For coaching to effect sustained behavioural and performance improvements it should:
- Provide insight into current leadership style.
- Clarify inner strengths and values.
- Improve interpersonal relationships.
- Broaden perspectives.
- Identify and overcome barriers to change.
- Enhance a learning mentality.
Good coaching provides an environment where issues can be discussed in total confidentiality; where people are heard but never judged. Trust is quickly developed between the coach and client, which is used as a foundation for successful exploration, ownership and positive change.
An effective coach attempts to see the world as the client sees it, which in turn acts as a mirror to enable the client to reflect on issues and behaviours more clearly.
However, as the essence of coaching is the formation of productive one-to-one relationships, the client also has a responsibility to make the relationship work by being:
- Open to constructive feedback, either from the coach, or from the comments and results from the multiple feedback instruments, such as 360 Leader feedback or LSI Profiling.
- Committed to the process and not just acting as a willing participant.
- Prepared to reveal personal weaknesses to others.
- Brave enough to consider modifying a leadership style that has previously been effective, but may not be fully appropriate to changing circumstances.
- Prepared to have his or her assumptions, motives and behaviours challenged by the coach.
No matter what the context, the PINNACLE Business Solutions coaching program is not just about increasing performance. The focus is on shifting the observer, not just making incremental changes in action.
By shifting the observer, the learning becomes transformational as new possibilities not available before become visible as opportunities for learning and growth.
PINNACLE Business Solutions take pride in the transformational results we produce and as the year comes to an end and you consider what you would like to achieve in the new year, take action and talk to us about a professional and personal development program with a difference.
Find out more by visiting our newly updated web site, www.pinnaclebusiness.com.au
