How do Coaches Help?

A633.8.3

To be an executive coach, it is necessary to know that clients are the first and best expert capable of solving their own problems and achieving their own ambitions, that is precisely the main reason why clients are motivated to call on a coach. When clients bring important issues to a coach, they already made a complete inventory of their personal or professional issues and of all possible options. Clients have already tried working out their issues alone, and have not succeeded.

1.    Given the statement above what is it that coaches do to provide value to their clients?

Coaches provide valuable support by enhancing current skills, new skills development, and work to close the gaps in known weakness, while capitalizing on strengths. Furthermore, they assist in making informed career decisions while serving as a “sounding board” for innovative ideas. Coaches ensure accountability by tracking agreed upon goals and provide feedback throughout the process, thus building positive learning habits and confidence. “Therefore, a career coach will be there to motivate you, track your progress, and check in on you to ensure that you’re doing what you should be doing to get where you want and need to be in your career” (Arnold-Smeets, 2016). 

2.    Why is coaching a vital aspect of both leadership and strategy? 

Enhancing one’s skills and abilities are a result of clarity of thought, developing creative solutions, and a commitment to the progressive improvement (self-awareness/feedback). Through this process (coaching), accompanied with experience, one begins to build vital leadership styles and characteristics typical of success. Moreover, with continued skills and leadership development, one may find themselves in a position where they are more likely to exercise situational leadership and how to move between each strategies (Tell, Sell, Involve, Devolve). According to Obolensky (2014), The key point is that a crucial skill is to be able to move effortlessly between each leadership strategy. It is not about which style is better or worse. It is about which strategy has the best chance for success” (p. 173). Thus, with such skills and leadership effectiveness and influence, organizational strategy also benefits.

3.    How can it make a difference in an organization?

An organization of learning (coaching) is one that is in constant self-evaluation and enlightenment. One of the significant factors with coaching is that it is designed to draw the best out of others by focusing on potential. When organizations have team members operating at optimal levels, the organization is better suited to adapt in complex environments, capitalize on innovative ideas, and enhance team cohesion.

4.    What does this mean to you and your organization?

Coming from a military background, the ability to learn new skills is important for individual and collective tasks. In fact, training, evaluation, and feedback are quite regular in certain fields. As a leader, they are expected to properly train and prepare junior level Soldiers for their current skill level and sometime beyond. In some cases, if a senior leader wished to evaluate a middle level leader coaching/training abilities, they would examine the proficiency of those the middle leader trained.

Reference

Arnold-Smeets, L. (2016). 5 Benefits of Career Coaching That You Need to Know. Payscale. Retrieved from http://www.payscale.com/career-news/2016/04/5-benefits-of-career-coaching-that-you-need-to-know.

Obolensky, N. (2014). Complex Adaptive Leadership (2^nd edition): Embracing Paradox and Uncertainty. Ashgate Publishing Ltd. Kindle Edition.