Coaching employees has been around since the 1980’s, but it was not until recently that companies and employees have begun to recognize its ability to develop leaders and give them an edge in today’s competitive business environment. A recent study commissioned by the American Management Association discovered that 57% of companies included in the study are using coaching now more than they did in the past. But what exactly is coaching and why would a company invest in it?
Coaching is a partnership between the coach and employee that is structured to produce positive results in the employee’s professional life; moving them from the ordinary to the extraordinary. The philosophy behind coaching is that an employee will be able to reach desired goals and improve in necessary areas faster and more efficiently by partnering with a coach. Just as for an elite athlete, coaching can enhance performance and personal awareness and drive change. Through goal setting, powerful questions, action plans, and other coaching tools, the coach helps foster solutions and strategies that support and enhance natural skills and abilities for a stellar employee. Conversely, for an employee who is not meeting standards, a coach will guide them to improved performance so that company objectives are met.
Examples of why companies use coaching to improve Return on Investment (ROI):
Retaining high-potential employees
Training newly promoted supervisors and managers
Assisting laid off employees to gain employment quickly
Coaching millennials on workplace ethics
Improving productivity
Guiding management and business owners to reach company goals
Assisting problem employees to meet company standards
There are different types of coaching that can be beneficial to employees at different levels and phases in their careers. Career coaching assists individuals in moving to the next level in their professional careers and helps them find new opportunities during transition. Management/Supervisor coaching helps managers and supervisors better understand their roles while developing skills and strategies for success. Executive Coaching provides support to top-level C-suite executives, high-potential employees, and business owners to help them achieve their targeted goals. Coaching can also be used to correct negative behaviors when employees violate HR policies such as anti-discrimination and anti-harassment.
While companies are benefiting from coaching investments in their employees by seeing improvements in performance and productivity, individual employees are reaping benefits as well. Some of these benefits include meeting deliverables, improved leadership and management skills, support of company culture, enhanced communication with upper management, conflict resolution, career development, increased employee engagement, and higher retention rates. Coaches are able to work with employees to identify and clarify key business goals and establish effective management strategies to ensure that these goals are met. This one-on-one attention shows your employees that they are valued and provides dedication and motivation for them to continue to work hard for a common goal.
Coaching has been highly successful for businesses of all sizes and the individual employees as well. If you are looking to invest in your company or your individual career, coaching is an excellent option to consider. Through coaching, a more productive way to cultivate behavior that is consistent with desired goals will be explored in order to achieve strategic and operational success.
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Portnoy, Messinger, Pearl & Associates, Inc. is here to answer any questions you have regarding this matter. Please keep in mind that in addition to our staff of seasoned HR professionals, we also affiliated employment lawyers on hand to address any questions you may have regarding compliance. Contact us at 800-921-2195 or 516-921-3400.
This article is intended for general information only and should not be construed as legal advice.
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