Benefits of Business Coaching
Dispelling the Myths and Defining the Realities for Practice
Jul 28, 2008
Coaching has been successfully applied in the world of sport and its benefits are now being realised in the business world. If the intervention is applied with the correct principles in mind and identified on an individual need, then the benefits for individuals and their organisations can be plentiful. It is important, therefore, to dismiss the myths that surround this common phenomenon and establish the essential behaviours for potential coaches.
Coaching is Primarily to Help Others
There are several reasons to implement coaching which include:
- More time for the coach – investing ten minutes a day in coaching fellow workers generates at least twenty minutes of coaching time per day for the coach.
- Practising coaching builds on the interpersonal skills needed to become a successful leader.
- The investment in coaching supports the development of a more robust organisation.
Coaching Equals Feedback
There are a number of important coaching tools and habits; insightful feedback is only one tool:
- Effective questioning can be very powerful and lead to greater empowerment for those being coached.
- A good rapport is an essential skill for coaching which will allow the relationship to develop and realise the benefits at an individual and organisational level.
Coaching Requires a Lot of Time
Coaching is often best applied in smaller sessions and at both formal and informal levels:
- With practice, coaching should become a routine part of the leaders’ management processes.
- Small investments of time, delivered at the appropriate moment, can lead to tangible results for the individuals and the organisation.
Coaching is about Work
If coaching is applied successfully, then the benefits will spread to other areas of life:
- Coaching skills developed at work, can support relationships with friends, partners and children.
- The application of coaching principles can develop life skills that can be applied outside the workplace.
The Essentials for Effective Coaches
There are many things a coach should not do, but if the principles of implementation are followed and the need for the intervention established then effective coaches will:
- Make their own prejudices and opinions clear to their clients
- Clarify that they are not the authority on what is best for the client
- Believe that clients have the resources to resolve their issues
- Stay in touch with leading practice in the field of coaching
- Encourage clients to utilise learning points from the coaching session
- Respect the client’s opinions and behaviour even if dysfunctional
- Recognise the client’s choice for how and when to make change
Coaching can be an effective development tool not only for the client but also for the coach and the organisation. Understanding the realities of coaching and essential behaviours for coaches will improve outcomes at all levels.
