Coaches help teams and players rise to the top

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Coaching, when implemented at an organizational level, can deliver dramatic results and drive
significant financial impact to the bottom line.
How many professional athletes get to the top without a coach? Probably very few, if any. So why should a business person expect to get to the top of their industry without a coach? After all it is a very competitive environment, just like sports.

“Coaching,” whether for business or personal usage, is becoming more and more popular. The concept is not new, however. For years, people would learn to succeed through the efforts of apprenticeship programs or through mentors. The only difference is that today’s coach or mentor continues on, even after a certain level of success is reached.

For the team or the player
Coaching was once viewed by many only as a tool to help correct underperforming employees. However, today it is becoming much more widely used in supporting the top producers and employees. Coaching has evolved into the mainstream fast. This is because there is a great demand in the workplace for immediate results, and coaching can help provide that edge.

Seasoned business coaches provide objective guidance to individuals to help them reach their professional goals. They help individuals discover and exploit their strengths, honor their weaknesses, recognize possible obstacles to success, and then develop a course of action to help the client maximize performance.

Coaching, when implemented at an organizational level, can deliver dramatic results and drive significant financial impact to the bottom line. Today’s values-based organizations employ coaching to build alignment, to develop current and future leaders, and to ensure the success of corporate training programs.

Coaching is a deliberate process utilizing focused conversations to create an environment for individual growth, purposeful action, and sustained improvement. There are a few different areas where a coach can be used.

Executive coaching performed with an individual or with a management team can help develop high performing leaders and executives on the fast-track. It is a way to provide immediate feedback, which can be useful when strategizing for the organization.

Often, executives and management need an objective, neutral sounding board to discuss challenges, opportunities and to express their perspective. A good coach will allow executives and managers to step away from the actual day-to-day routine and effectively strategize on how the business can reach beyond the situation.

Professional development coaching is similar to executive coaching, but focuses on the individual and their own personal results within an organization. One might say that this is just an expansion of plain old sales management in the typical agency. Professional development coaching helps individuals to utilize their strengths, to see where they may have blind spots and to identify a course of action.

Both executive and professional coaching will help develop leadership skills and improve the ability for the client to work with their employees and co-workers. When the client is clear on their own plans and vision, they become more effective in communication with others and understanding the needs and perspectives of others. The client in effect becomes the “coach” for others within the organization.

Personal, or life coaching, is the holistic approach to coaching. This type of coaching looks at where the individual currently is with their career, family, health, financial matters and all other facets of life. The individual and coach then work together to pull all theses pieces together into a roadmap for success.

Help with achieving set goals
Coaching will help the individual or team develop focus and take action towards achieving goals. A coach is like Jiminy Cricket, whispering guidance, encouragement and objective advice in the client’s ear. The coach can assist the client to take greater responsibility and accountability for their actions and commitments.

Coaching works best when there is a specific purpose or goal in mind. But simply having a clear purpose won’t guarantee coaching value. The client needs to be open to feedback and willing to move in a new direction in order to create positive change.

Working with a skilled facilitator, the client is encouraged to go deeper into what it is that they truly want. The purpose of a goal or vision will clarify if the current situation is on the right path, or if a new approach is needed. The ultimate objective of coaching is to contribute to increased choice for the client leading to a more fulfilling life.

The key to coaching success is that the coach is not tied to the organization, family or friends. The coach is tied to the client. This way the coach can be objective and support what the client needs and wants and where they want to go. A coach is not personally impacted by the client’s decisions for their career or life.

Firms that offer coaching can help those seeking personal and professional change, growth, and development. The key is to understand that a primary requirement for a better, more fulfilling experience of life–personally or professionally–is one’s own internal change.

Bill Schoeffler and Catherine Oak are partners at Oak & Associates. The firm specializes in financial and management consulting for independent insurance agents and brokers. They can be reached at (707) 935-6565, by e-mail at bill@oakandassociates.com, or visit www.oakandassociates.com