Often I hear of frustration and disappointment that managers and leaders  who have been on a coaching skills workshop do very little with it on their return to the workplace.  It seems, from my experience, that the introducing managers to the skills and models applicable in coaching is a realtively easy task, they are bright people and intellectually the content is not that challenging.  What appears to be much more of a challenge is implementing the ‘coach  approach’ in their everyday  business life.  The approach and effective conversations of a  ‘leader / coach’ are often very different to what they learned in the past, not least because it demands a shift from the problem solving behaviours that so many managers have found successful, and have been rewarded for in their organisations.  The legacy role of ‘manager as problem solver’ can be deep routed in corporate / professional cultures.

Training has an important role in introducing new constructs, behaviours and propositions for future business success, it’s in implementation that the challenges arise.  So how can we go about sustaining the momentum in building a coach apporach to leadership?

I would recommend a structured approach over time.  Following an inital say 2 day workshop bring the managers back together regulary in ‘practice and build’ sessions where they co-coach each other on real business issues and/or their challenges / experiences of integrating a coaching style into their leadership.  This way they get to experience first hand on how coaching can be used in e.g. issue / problem resolution, and are encouraged to use this approach with their people.  These sessions also give the opportunity for us to give more input to them, according to the challenges they are facing, e.g. coach approach to development, or coach approach to performance management, or coach approach to delegation.  If you can’t get them back together face to face every time, run some 90 min telecalls where they come and share what’s working / not working and encourage them to coach each other so others can listen, give feedback etc.  I’ve learned the hard way over some 15 years of bringing coaching skills to business leaders – Always contract follow up sessions, Never leave them with just a (for example), 2 day coaching skills workshop, This will rarely be successful, Stay with them over a 6 to 9 month period, keep the dialogue going on how coaching is helping the business, get them to publish success, encourage their managers and support each other.

• Creating internal coaching capability Coaching Questions that have proved to be relevant when creating or planning to create coaching capability inside organisations. Some of the questions seem to be difficult to come to terms with, and from experience, when they are answered the end result is far more robust. Why Coaching? Why now? What......
• Coaching Models–useful or not? Working recently with an organisation on advanced coaching skills I suggested that the only 'model' necessary for them was for the conversation to have a beginning, a middle, and an end. They had previously been drilled in GROW. After their 1st practice session the feedback was, 'we felt liberated' (by......
• Coaching to Manage Performance and Employee Engagement 50% of managers fail to mange poor performance, a recent survey said.  Should we just get rid of those poor performers and hire more talented people?  Oh that we had the luxury ... and of course getting rid  of poor performers that way means you have to manage people out......
• Why is turning Managers into Coaches so difficult? The above question attracted by attention and I replied as follows:  (references are at the bottom of the post) Experience tells me that it's not appropriate to 'turn managers into coaches' and that it's much more relevant to support managers to have a 'coach approach' - seemingly subtle linguistically and......
• Building a Coaching Culture I often get asked about how to build a coaching culture in an organization. Lots of work is one answer, and it starts with getting clear about what you want to see at the end, (doesn't everything!). The map below is a session design for coaches, or those sponsoring coaching,......

• Contemplate A Little And Set Up Your Working At Home! Working at home – nice tips and real advice which will help you. Have you been looking for them for ages? Be sure these ones will do you! 1) You do not have to think there is no interest in online business. You have to contemplate about it, you should......
• How To Earn Super High Profits With The Amazon Associate Program If you want to earn as much as possible from the Amazon Associate Program you need to know how to pick a good niche and approach it well. When you put together a strong foundation all that is left is to see to the necessary parts of building a reliable......
• Do You Need Network Marketing Help? // Tired of always looking for network marketing help? I am sure you are working your butt off to get somewhere in your online business.  Are you promoting in all the places your sponsor is telling you to promote? I see so many people pushing their theories and methods......
• The Best Skis For Kids If you’re ready to take your kids out on the slopes, it’s a good idea to make sure they have the right equipment. While it’s perfectly fine to rent equipment, especially if they will only be skiing on vacation, if they show an interest in the sport, it’s a good......
• The Family CFO By Mary Allvine and Christine Larson Whether you are just starting out as a family, or the kids are already in school, there is a lot to be learned about managing the finances of a family. There are so many troublespots that families face, and few places to go for advice. We were very excited......

Training leaders to use the coach approach is the next step for organizations embracing this concept.

If coaching in the workplace didn’t exist, we’d need to invent it. Think about that. Over the last decade, the way people interact with their work and their employers has altered greatly. Empowerment, continuous change, greater emphasis on leadership and teamwork, and the need for flexibility have all created a workplace where coaching is not only the smart way to manage people — it’s perhaps the only way that works.

Training leaders to use the coach approach is the next step for organizations embracing this concept.

If coaching in the workplace didn’t exist, we’d need to invent it. Think about that. Over the last decade, the way people interact with their work and their employers has altered greatly. Empowerment, continuous change, greater emphasis on leadership and teamwork, and the need for flexibility have all created a workplace where coaching is not only the smart way to manage people — it’s perhaps the only way that works.

It no longer makes sense to command and control people when they themselves are responsible for their results. Nor can job-specific training and rigid procedures help people cope with shifting career requirements. A coach approach to managing in the workplace prepares people to make the most of their skills and aptitudes, to recognize the opportunities that best suit their talents, and moves them from motivation to action.

Coaching is sometimes confused with consulting. A consultant provides skills and/or resources to help the client do what they do more effectively. Conversely, manager-coaches help their direct reports acquire these assets themselves so they become better equipped, more resilient, more “employ-able.” In a consulting relationship, the consultant does the work and takes responsibility for the result: in coaching, the coachee is responsible for their own outcomes.

International coach training company, Corporate Coach U, defines coaching as the process of equipping people with the tools, knowledge and opportunities they need to achieve effectiveness in their commitment to themselves, the organization and their work. As such, coaching fits perfectly into the modern manager’s toolkit.

The manager as coach

A prevailing myth is that workplace coaching requires a horde of external coaches or coach-consultants working alongside management. There may be situations in which this is necessary — rapid, tumultuous change, for example — but for most organizations, getting managers to incorporate coaching into their skill set is what works best. Coaching builds on traditional management skills, adding components that encourage personal growth and development, leading to breakthrough performance. It’s become a core management competency in the modern organization.

How do managers acquire these skills? They can learn directly from a coach-mentor or they can take a coach training workshop. Coaching is a comprehensive approach to managing people and it requires a complete re-think of workplace relationships. A hands-on clinic is usually the best way to learn and practice coaching skills.

A word of caution, while many managers think they engage in coaching already, their understanding often comes from the sports world. Although there are many concepts in common, it’s the differences that create confusion and form the distinction between the sports field and the workplace. For example, the sports coach is seen as the expert who likely played the game once and knows the ins and outs of how to play. Whereas the leader-coach is likely not an expert in every job position, rather knows what outcomes are needed from each player. Coaching in the workplace is not about knowing the answers, but about knowing what questions to ask to support team members to create their own game plans.

Over the years I have worked with leaders in many different countries who believed that coaching is really telling others what to do, how to do it and then sending them on their way with a pat on the back and a you-can-do-it positive attitude. This point of view quickly changes once we start to explore the foundational principles coaching is based on. The first principle I put forward is “coaching is based on the belief that people hold their own answers within.”

Embracing this principle then allows managers to make the paradigm shift needed to fully engage in coaching, vs. simply telling, or being the source of all solutions. Once we get to that place, then the work begins on the skills needed to be an effective organizational coach. Before fully embracing this principle, someone always asks the obvious question: “What if “they”[coachee] really don’t know?” Good question. How would you reply?

Think of coaching along a continuum where the focus shifts from you (the coach) to me (the coachee). In between the coach wears many hats, from manager, mentor, consultant, teacher or trainer. But always returns to the coachee for the commitment or action steps. For example, a manager may teach a direct report how to initiate a procedure or take responsibility for a project. And then return to a coaching question to support the individual to be successful in taking on the new responsibility.

Remembering the first principle of coaching allows the leader to change the nature of the conversation to one that promotes self discovery, solutions and commitments. An effective leader-coach needs to build a repertoire of powerful, open, discovery questions. When you let go of being the source of all solutions, it frees up the conversation to be exploratory and developmental. You could even call coaching the true meaning of empowerment in the workplace.

Marilyn Duggan, director of human resources for Methanex Corporation, has been encouraging managers to develop coaching skills for years. “I think coaching is the key to getting the best from people,” she says. “Coaching helps overcome the disconnect that often happens between people.”

One of the benefits of the coach approach is that managers are better equipped to delegate. Delegation through coaching is about “getting things done through people,” says Duggan. “Not telling, but helping them discover. They feel better, and you can delegate confidently—confident that they’ll come back to seek support.”

Denny Lowes is human resources manager for Mainland Engineering Corporation, a road construction company. He has spent the past year using his coaching skills wherever possible, and encouraging Mainland managers to adopt a coaching approach, reflecting a company-wide commitment to help all staff build coaching skills.

“It’s been a very good experience for moving people forward, rather than giving them the answers,” he says. “Before, it was just a problem that I had to solve. Now I say keep the problem and I’ll give you the power to handle it. In the past it was more about me; I was happy that I’d solved their problem. Now the reward comes later, but it’s more gratifying that the person found their own solution.”

The City of Richmond’s vision is to be the most appealing, liveable and well-managed community in the country. They have introduced coaching as part of a strategy to develop leadership skills with their management team.

According to Human Resources Manager Rae Williamson, so far Richmond has trained more than 140 managers including the Fire Chief and his deputies, senior executives, managers and front line supervisors.

“We’ve seen a different culture emerging,” says Williamson, “one that is more collaborative, where employees step forward with ideas and contributions. Our people believe they are being heard.”

Libby Rush is with the B.C. Ministry of Finance’s human resource services branch. “My role involves working with managers to improve their performance,” says Rush. “I consider coaching to be a critical management skill. Coaching is helping managers move to a new level of competency.”

And why is this change necessary? “Roles are changing because we’re becoming more people focused, more team oriented,” says Rush. “Coaching supports collaboration — you and I working together to help you come up with the right answer. Managers are starting to realise the value of coaching.” Rush expects that over time, through adopting a simple step-by-step process, coaching will become automatic and become an unconscious competency.

“Coaching is such common sense,” says Rush. “I just think it’s about time”

Principles of Coaching

1. coaching is based on the belief that people hold their own answers within

2. coaching is a collaborative partnership – it is not something you ‘do’ to someone

3. coaching is a positive conversation – it is not used as a punishment

4. coaching is about moving forward, creating action – it is not focused on the past

5. coaching is transformational vs. transactional – it’s an ongoing developmental conversation

6. the coachee does ‘the work’, the coach creates the environment, asks powerful discovery questions, and provides support

7. the coaching conversation is roughly 80:20 with the coachee talking most

Getting Started:

Cheryl’s Theory of Knock Knock Coaching

The easiest way to begin to use the skill of coaching is to seize ‘coachable moments’. For example, when the knock comes to your door from a team member who asks “what do you want me to do about this?” try taming your auto-problem-solver muscle and try using your coaching muscle. Imagine you have a beach ball in your hand, and you immediately toss it to the coachee with a question: “What would you recommend?” “What have you thought of so far?” “What would you like to see happen?”  This gets into coaching mode immediately. Try and see if you don’t discover what others have found: it works and it’s easy (even easier than doing all the work yourself.)

Cheryl Smith, MA, MCC, is known as “The Coaches’ Coach”, she is an executive coach and founder of OurCoach, an international coaching and training organization; she has worked with and trained thousands of coaches and leaders on five continents, she’s the former Vice-President of the leading global coach training company, Corporate Coach U; an associate faculty member at Royal Roads University’s masters in leadership program; a co-founder of the Executive Coaching Certificate Program at Royal Roads; and a Master Certified Coach by the International Coach Federation. She is co author of the popular training program “Navigational Coaching: Strategic coaching skills for corporate leaders”. Contact: cheryl@ourcoach.com

• Coaching to Manage Performance and Employee Engagement 50% of managers fail to mange poor performance, a recent survey said.  Should we just get rid of those poor performers and hire more talented people?  Oh that we had the luxury ... and of course getting rid  of poor performers that way means you have to manage people out......
• Building a Coaching Culture I often get asked about how to build a coaching culture in an organization. Lots of work is one answer, and it starts with getting clear about what you want to see at the end, (doesn't everything!). The map below is a session design for coaches, or those sponsoring coaching,......
• Coaching for effective delegation Delegation is a vital tool for Leaders and Managers both to get the work done and to develop others.  Here's a set of questions that might support coaching a manger on the topic of effective delegation Diagnosis What's your track record with delegation so far? Worked well? Not so well?......
• Why Coaching? Performance Related Coaching, its relevance and place in business today   Coaching and being coached are essential activities for 21st century business leaders.  In an environment of uncertainty, intense competition and globalisation of markets, innovation, creativity and improved performance are vital to the survival of businesses.   “People, not capital,......
• What makes a Great Coach Coaching can be a very rewarding. It's the ideal career / activity choice for those who: Like to work with people Have a strong desire to see people excel in their lives Are prepared to let others do the talking Can connect with people and listen with interest and empathy......

• Squatting Laws Can Take Away Property Many people don't know the laws surrounding the property they own. They might know the property tax laws, or at least the basics, but for the most part they probably only know how much they have to pay each year, and they may not even know that much. There are......
• Black Friday 2010: Shoppers Trampled, Items Stolen, and Obama in Stitches! photo courtesy of Huffington Post It never fails! Every year we get to see the worst in humanity during Black Friday! People will try to cut in line in front of hundreds of shoppers. There will be fights over parking spaces, places in line, and discounted items. People will steal......
• Learning Basic Money Management Skills Whether economics is your idea of a great way to fight insomnia, or you just didn’t get the benefit of learning about money management early on, it is never to late to learn the basic skills of proper money management. We highly recommend taking a brief course on finance if......
• Help Your Child Manage Credit - A Contrarian View Today CNNMoney.com published a story telling parents how they can help their children manage credit. The author is apparently very concerned that all hell is going to break loose in the credit world this February. Why? Because credit card companies won't be able to issue credit cards to folks under......
• Dr. Wayne Andersen on Habit Changing Support Editor’s note: This is a guest post from Dr. Wayne Andersen, Medical Director of Medifast, Inc. Learn more about his new book, Habits of Health at DrWayneAndersen.com. What are the benefits of having some type of support when trying to change a habit? Building a support system is the single......

• Coaching to Manage Performance and Employee Engagement 50% of managers fail to mange poor performance, a recent survey said.  Should we just get rid of those poor performers and hire more talented people?  Oh that we had the luxury ... and of course getting rid  of poor performers that way means you have to manage people out......
• Coaching -vs- Mentoring Often when working with Managers on coaching skills we get asked about the differences between Coaching and Mentoring.  The diagram below attempts to clarify and also mentions different styles / behaviours.  Coaching and Mentoring are very much future focussed.  Whilst asking questions is the dominant style for coaching, I strongly believe that......
• Building a Coaching Culture I often get asked about how to build a coaching culture in an organization. Lots of work is one answer, and it starts with getting clear about what you want to see at the end, (doesn't everything!). The map below is a session design for coaches, or those sponsoring coaching,......
• What makes a Great Coach Coaching can be a very rewarding. It's the ideal career / activity choice for those who: Like to work with people Have a strong desire to see people excel in their lives Are prepared to let others do the talking Can connect with people and listen with interest and empathy......
• Words and phrases to describe coaching An amazing set of positive words that contribute to the meaning and values of coaching, irrespective of context: vision, values, beliefs, learning, self, others, exploration, possibilities, potential, me, transformation, learning about things, emotions, mind and body, awareness, action, epiphany, light-bulb-moments, aha!, liberation, self actualisation, culture, whole person, self knowledge, understanding,......