Get Some Direction

The business landscape has had dramatic changes in the last few years and what better way to keep the inside edge than using the services of a business coach, We put a number of questions to ICF Global President and Master Certified Coach, Janet M. Harvey to help you understand how best to use these services.

Business and consumer confidence is at a low ebb right now; do business coaches have a realistic ability to re-invigorate suffering companies? And if so, how?
Challenging economic times require resilience and a commitment to focus, see clearly, and be highly effective and productive in each action, choice, and business relationship. In the face of uncertainty caused by workforce reductions and tight credit markets, expectations of the workforce that remains in a suffering company are very high. Leaders expect the workforce to adapt and be creative, tapping into unused potential as individuals and teams throughout the organization. Restoring self-confidence and self-trust to face the challenges is critical to meet organizational demands.

Professional coaches focus on all of these needs through thought provoking and creative exchange that maximizes personal and professional potential. The coach-client relationship generates learning and clarity for forward action with a commitment to clear measurable outcomes and success measures that clients accept accountability to achieve.

How can a company who may be in the in the midst of restructuring wages, staff numbers, and other touchy criteria justify the hiring of a business coach?
Business coaches partner with clients to declare clear, measurable outcomes by which to shape, focus, and discipline the exchange over time. Sustaining consistent execution of strategy with a smaller workforce requires creative responses to ensure morale is positive and forward thinking. When personal risk for job security is high, resistance to the very action and decision-making required to sustain business performance is also high. Investing in a business coach signals a commitment to support those who remain in the organization to continue driving results and to take the measured risks to implement creative solutions for the new marketplace climate.

Surely anyone with some business wisdom, acumen, and an independent point of view can set up as a consultant. Why is it important to use an accredited coach and what formal training do your members receive?
The very best consultants already work inside of every organization. The workforce members retained are the ones who have demonstrated ability to consistently deliver desired results that align best with winning strategy. While there are many experts who may offer consulting to an organization, these individuals know the market generally and various process tools and methods with the potential to help. What is missing is the intimate knowledge of the organization, its legacy, culture and unique value proposition. Existing workforce, properly focused and supported to sustain attention on the most important factors driving performance, will outperform external consultants. Professional coaches, well trained in the art, science, and practice for maximizing potential are the resource by which the workforce focuses and executes in a resourceful and creative fashion.

How do you know if a coach is any good at their job and how long is it likely to take for a company to start seeing the positive outcome?
Effective professional coaching occurs when the practitioner is well trained and experienced and, the relationship between coach and client allows for respectful connection. Interview coaches to determine length of training and whether the school that provided the training is recognized by a professional coaching organization and ask if the coach has been awarded a credential by that organization. In addition to competence, it is valuable to learn if the coach has experience in the market sector content so they are comfortable discussing relevant business content and inquire about experience working in the context of the individuals and teams who will receive coaching, e.g. functional area of the business or level of authority in the business. Positive outcomes are available immediately through adjustment of attitude and focus and these are sustained as behavior change occurs that aligns client action best with the desired organizational results.

How do coaches customize their approach to individual client needs? Please give examples…
Every coaching engagement is customized by definition because the relationship is a co-created partnership. The individual client and the sponsoring organizational leader are involved in the creation of coaching goals, documenting measurable outcomes, and declaring observable evidence for new behaviors that match the job and role competencies of required for the business to succeed. Some of the more common examples include executive assimilation, high potential leaders being prepared for expanded span of control or greater strategic authority, strengthening executive presence, improving team consistency for delivering on time, on budget solutions by addressing interpersonal communications, preparing for organizational change by creating readiness and positive attitudes.

What are the key goals business coaches want to achieve within an organisation, how do they go about implementing them?
Organizations define the key goals. The specific client, working in partnership with the coach, identifies the mindset and skill set targeted for development and growth that will facilitate that individual or team in achieving the organizational goals. Accountability for achieving the goals rests in the hands of the client. The coach brings expertise in creating awareness for the client about the mindset and skill set that complements inherent strengths and facilitates clarity and alignment with core organizational values and expected competency behaviors so that the client consistently chooses actions that yield desired results. Often the process involves trying now behaviors, becoming aware of what are most effective and generating new habits that are more productive. Focus is applied on key relationships and expected demonstration of skill in order to fulfil job role requirements. As clients become more aware of personal impact and affect and may choose ways of relating that engage colleagues with more respect and partnership, the organization will achieve desired results from that individual or team.

Business Coaching