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 Business
& Finance
2-15 November 2006
Peak Performance
(by Sharon Gaffney)
Business coaching is now a business necessity as managers look
to reach their potential and optimise their company's performance.
Executive coaching is one of the main tools businesses can
incorporate to train and develop employees. It is especially
useful for busy executives who have little assisted means of
continual development. It is generally recognised that executives
may not require the same level of sustained formal training
as other employees, but they may benefit from objective feedback
from a source outside the workplace.
Much of the psychology behind business coaching is based on
the premise that the corporation as a whole will benefit from
a change in executive or management behaviour and that these
changes will impact the business results of the company.
John Buckley is a director of Momentum Business Coaching with
over 20 years experience in marketing, business strategy and
sales management. He points out that a recent US study into
enhanced executive learning revealed that formal staff training
increased corporate productivity by 22%. However, when formal
training was combined with business coaching, productivity increased
by a massive 88%.
Another study demonstrated that executive who received coaching
scored higher than those who did not on business results obtained
for their companies. Executives claimed they experienced improvements
in leadership qualities, team performance, job satisfaction,
organisational commitment and reduced levels of conflict as
a direct result of coaching.
"Executives can appear to be top performers in their field
but that doesn't mean they are operating at their highest potential.
It's not uncommon for staff to reach executive level in the
workplace without necessarily having all of the management,
leadership and interpersonal skills in place to do their job
efficiently." says Buckley.
"We specialise in working with newly-appointed managers
and people who have just received promotions. The first three
to six months in a job are a crucial transition period with
high expectations often being placed on employees. We often
find that the skills that have made people successful in previous
positions will not necessarily be of benefit to them in their
new role. We encourage these people to develop leadership skills
and take time to reflect on the different requirements that
come with their new position."
| Executive
coaching is one of the tools businesses can incorporate
to train and develop employees. |
Momentum Business Coaching offers coaching services over a
period of six months. A customised plan is produced at the beginning
of the coaching process to allow clients to set their own agenda
and come up with their own solutions to the challenges they
face. "Our job is to challenge our clients to ensure their
goals and ambitions are right for them. In order to achieve
success trust must be built between the coach and the client,
and our main focus has always centred on bringing people together
to accomplish those goals." adds Buckley.
| Building
Momentum |
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According
to John Buckley, Director of Momentum Business Coaching
Ltd., business coaching is best understood as having a
development focus. The learning that occurs through coaching
can benefit the manager's performance and development.
"We
encourage our clients to hold both a developmental and
performance mind set. They pursue a long term strategy
and short term goals." he says. "The first is
aspirational, while the second is practical and immediate,
relying on applying an established set of skills to ensure
the company's financial strength to pursue its long term
strategy."
Buckley
works with companies that include coaching and developing
people as a core competency for individuals who are in
leadership positions. What sets coaching apart from other
developmental activities is the critical role that one
person, the coach, plays in challenging and supporting
another person to pull important lessons from reflection
on their experiences.
It's also
well understood that senior managers have made significant
sacrifices in their personal lives to reach their levels
of responsibility and it's not uncommon for the coaching
conversation to focus on this area and explore opportunities
to rebuild the balance between work and personal life.
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