What is Coaching?

“In today’s competitive world, top executives increasingly understand that sustaining peak performance requires a commitment to developing leaders throughout the organization. Leaders need to develop other leaders. An important part of this development process includes helping people set, and achieve, meaningful goals for personal change.”
~ Marshall Goldsmith – Helping People Achieve Their Goals

Coaching is a process designed to help successful people become even more effective at achieving their goals. An objective, outside, individual becomes involved in the balanced process of gathering data in areas of strength and development, using that data to create an individualized plan for personal development, and then providing ongoing accountability to that personal action plan over a period of time. It is a proven method designed to increase personal effectiveness and organizational results.

The coaching process involves six steps that include elements, expectations and outcomes. The coach and individual being coached form a “sounding board” partnership where data is gathered, feedback is given, development areas and activities are identified, a written development action plan is created, accountability is achieved through regular follow-up, and measurement is used to document progress in personal development over the coaching period of time.

Key Success Factors

Marshall Goldsmith, renowned executive coach, summarized three key success factors in the coaching process:

• The key variable in determining the success of coaching is not the coach; it is the person being coached and their co-workers.
• True long-term change requires discipline over time and process management.
• By involving team members and key stakeholders, the value of the coaching process can be increased exponentially.

The Bottom Line

Coaching is a proven technique to develop personal effectiveness that drives a return on the investment from the organizational results achieved and satisfaction in personal growth, development and self-mastery.

To learn more about how a coaching process can help you personally or build new leaders in your organization, contact us today. Ask about a free PDF download that describes our entire coaching process.