| Effective executive business coaching is optimized | | | | measurable and achievable. People being coached |
| when viewed within the context of achieving | | | | incorporate their new learning into practical results |
| measurable business results. In the successful | | | | that further the objectives of the business. |
| small business, coaching is conducted in keeping | | | | In successful businesses, the coaching function is |
| with the organizational structure of the business. It | | | | outlined as part of the small business plan and |
| is seen to be part of the leadership skills | | | | integrated into the developmental culture of the |
| development culture that fulfils strategic | | | | business. |
| objectives and goals. | | | | The direction of coaching is determined by |
| A coaching program, within a business culture, | | | | achieving agreed results through having individual |
| works because it focuses attention on the people | | | | development plans that are tied back to |
| in the business. Coaching is a practice that | | | | corporate plans at the strategic level. These are |
| emphasizes the importance of interpersonal | | | | reviewed on an ongoing basis so that |
| relationships in getting the job done. It also | | | | development is seen as a never-ending task. |
| demands that everyone is on a path of ongoing | | | | Effective business owners and managers are |
| learning. No one can rest on his or her laurels in a | | | | always learning themselves, and they see this |
| high-performance business. | | | | learning as part of the continuous improvement |
| Effective coaching programs also enhance | | | | cycle of the business. |
| corporate team building. They achieve this result | | | | Often, individual coaching interventions reveal and |
| because they send a clear message that the | | | | uncover structural barriers to an individual |
| business takes each person seriously, as valuable | | | | achieving high performance within the business |
| individuals that make positive contributions to the | | | | itself. Breakdowns in systems, processes, policies |
| business. | | | | and so on may need to be addressed, within the |
| Coaching enables people to understand | | | | business itself, for the individual to perform at a |
| themselves, identify their strengths, work with | | | | higher level. |
| others more effectively and openly, and by so | | | | Coaching at the executive level in this sense |
| doing, contribute positively to the success of the | | | | becomes everyone's responsibility, within the high |
| business as part of an executive group. | | | | performance business culture, in terms of |
| There are three key elements that are essential | | | | developing plans that will remove such barriers to |
| in having an effective executive coaching | | | | performance. |
| framework in a business. | | | | It is worth noting that Dr. W. Edwards Deming, |
| Element One - Accountability | | | | the father of the quality improvement approach, |
| Coaching works because the person being | | | | said that 85% of so called 'people performance' |
| coached holds him or herself accountable and | | | | problems are caused by structural issues in and |
| responsible for the results. People who benefit | | | | around the person concerned. |
| from coaching are people who want to be | | | | Element Three - Openness |
| coached. They keep an open mind as they think | | | | Coaching is a business proposition. The demand |
| critically through the information that has been | | | | for open communication and ongoing learning in |
| generated in and around them. They are prepared | | | | relationships between people in successful |
| to listen honestly to the feedback, even if at | | | | businesses informs the changes that need to be |
| times this may be uncomfortable and confronting | | | | made by the individual. |
| for them. | | | | This calls for strong relationships and straight |
| Insights about their performance gleaned from | | | | talking at the business owner and management |
| psychometric instruments and tools and input | | | | levels. Remember, coaching interventions are a |
| from others who work alongside them serve as | | | | function that is primarily for the benefit of the |
| valuable sources of information. | | | | business, not the person being coached. |
| By thinking through the issues and using their | | | | This being the case, the whole business must |
| coach as an honest broker, effective business | | | | create a supportive, collegiate environment of |
| owners and managers are able to interpret the | | | | mutual respect, where truth telling is the norm. |
| information, assign meaning to it and develop a | | | | Performance issues and behaviors are the focus. |
| plan around what to do. They take responsibility | | | | Proposals for courses of action are talked through |
| for their subsequent words and their actions. | | | | and discussed openly so that an individual's |
| Executive coaching is particularly well suited for | | | | particular strengths are enhanced and their |
| successful people who are already performing at | | | | weaknesses are managed and compensated for |
| a high level of competence. They are | | | | within an overall team context. |
| self-motivated; they desire to achieve at a higher | | | | Coaching is not about 'fixing' people. It is about |
| level; they have the necessary drive for learning | | | | getting high performance business results. People |
| and taking personal responsibility for managing | | | | being coached in high performing businesses self |
| both perceived and real gaps in performance as a | | | | manage and self correct around the issues being |
| means by which they raise the bar toward | | | | raised with them. |
| excellence. | | | | Business coaching is not therapy. It is not financial, |
| Element Two - Direction | | | | medical advice or counselling. If people need these |
| Effective coaching is part of an integrated and | | | | kinds of interventions, they should be referred to |
| planned approach to achieve business objectives | | | | trained professionals in those fields. |
| and results. The tasks to be undertaken are | | | | |