Workplace or executive coaching is a one-to-one learning and development intervention that uses a collaborative, reflective, goal-focused relationship to achieve professional outcomes that are valued by the coachee. Coaching programs help professionals grow, develop and learn new skills under the direction and advice of a seasoned expert. Coaching has typically been perceived as an ‘executive’ development activity, but it need not necessarily be limited to managers and executives in organizations. The coaching relationship is one that the coachee enters into for the specific purpose of fulfilling development objectives. It is important to differentiate coaching from other forms of developmental relationships in the workplace. Conceptually, it may first be distinguished from mentoring relationships. A mentoring relationship is conventionally long term between a highly experienced mentor and an inexperienced mentee. The mentor is assumed to be highly experienced in the discipline or field in which the mentee is working, and in the workplace, the mentor typically provides guidance on career development and networking. In a coaching relationship, there is no such expectation that the coach has expertise or experience of the coachee’s area of work, and the term of the relationship is rather guided by specific objectives.

How coaching can helps in workplace:

Organizational Goals

Companies can align the goals of the business with a coaching program to gain a competitive edge. For example, the coaching program can target new employees in product development when the goal of the organization is to bring new products to the market. Developing employees in weak areas of the company can also benefit the business’s organizational goals. Coaching also provides guidance for employee to achieve their individual goals. For instance, a salesman will have his individual target to be achieved every month, coaching will assist him in attaining his goal.

Performance Level

A coach is a person who enables clients to discover specific skills, knowledges and develop abilities. Coaching gives the client an opportunity to associate with positive, supportive people. Coaching encourages a client to set goals and determine the actions to achieve those goals. When employees work towards the targeted goals they feel motivated and this helps them to perform and meet organization measurement.

Company Culture

A coach can help a new employee adjust to the culture in an organization. Young professionals may not be accustomed to an organization’s practices and acceptable behaviors. The coach can provide the new worker with information on the corporate culture, organizational structure and procedures that will help the younger professional settle into his role in the business. Companies can assign a mentor or coach to new employees during the adjustment period to help them get up to speed on company procedures and policies. Coaching also provides the worker with a leader he can turn to with questions.

Employee Morale

Coaching generally helps boost employee morale and engagement. Coaching help to build valuable skills and knowledge they can use to advance in their careers, employee feel supported and encouraged by their manager and the company and experience the pride and satisfaction that come with surmounting new challenges. A supportive atmosphere can improve employee morale and loyalty, thereby helping to reduce turnover and boost productivity. High employee turnover costs organizations money in the form of recruitment hiring and training of replacements. Companies should weigh the costs of implementing coaching program against the high cost of employee turnover to determine the benefits of coaching.

By Pungkothai, 7 May 2018