The essential ingredients for successful coaching, with recommendations for individual and organisational best practice, are contained in a new research report published by Roffey Park, the executive education and research organisation.
What Makes Coaching A Success? provides an overview of coaching and defines the benefits and the core skills involved. Interspersed with case studies, it highlights the key theoretical models and the challenges faced by organisations in introducing coaching as a development tool.
Written by Barbara Kenton and Diane Moody, who are both development tutors at Roffey Park, the report highlights the competencies and personal characteristics required of coaches, provides guidance on how to select a coach, and lists the attitudes and beliefs required by coaches and coachees as well as other factors necessary for an effective and productive coaching relationship. It also highlights some potential ‘interferences’ to coaching - such as the time and effort involved and a possible unwillingness to embark on a coach/coachee relationship - and offers strategies for overcoming them.
"Coaching is often seen as a controversial meld of consultancy and psychotherapy, but many organisations are utilising it for performance improvement or to introduce a broader range of development opportunities," say the authors. "It’s important to have clarity about the nature of the relationship and for the individuals involved to own the process and feel comfortable with it."
The report outlines some specific elements that contribute to an effective coaching relationship, including contracting and establishing the boundaries; the key values, skills and capabilities of the coach; the motivation of the coachee; and terminating the coaching relationship and evaluating its success. It distinguishes between content issues - such as where to meet, how often and for how long; the specific focus and goals of the sessions; and cost and payment - and process issues such as confidentiality and coaching style.
"Our research shows that if the coaching relationship is to be effective, there needs to be an implied level of respect between the coach and coachee," says Barbara Kenton, who also directs Roffey Park’s Coaching for Success residential programme. "In that context we found evidence that coaching can build self-sufficiency and engender trust, confidence and self-belief, all of which can be empowering for the individual and beneficial for the organisation."
Priced at £30, What Makes Coaching A Success? is available from Pauline Hinds (telephone: 01293 854065) at Roffey Park.
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