Coaching is an increasingly popular tool for supporting personal development. The word coaching comes from the same root as 'to coax'. Essentially, it is a form of helping someone else to learn - usually on a one-to-one basis. The key difference from instructors and trainers is probably the use of the word 'help'. Instruction / training can be seen as dogmatic and technique-based and often works on a 'one size fits all' basis.
Here at Pearlcatchers, we have always believed that every organisation, team and individual are different and need to be treated accordingly. We therefore focus our services on activities which encourage delegates to learn rather than be taught.
The very essence of coaching is that the coachee does not acquire the facts or skills from the coach, but from within himself, stimulated by the coach. John Whitmore, author of the classic 'Coaching for Performance' defines coaching as unlocking a person's potential to maximise their own performance. It is helping them to learn rather than teaching them.
Effective coaching benefits everyone involved and provides the following advantages for the coachee:
As such, coaching fits perfectly with our ethos of experiential learning that can be tailored to the needs of the individual. Pearlcatchers are delighted to now offer the following types of coaching:
Performance Coaching - an ongoing supportive relationship to help managers improve their performance in one or many areas of their life. These sessions may also incorporate personal or career development. They can be especially helpful for those recently appointed or hoping to move into management roles.
Executive Coaching - similar to Performance Coaching, but focussing on top level executives and high performing leaders. These sessions tend to have a more strategic focus, both in terms of considering future challenges and strategy and how they can maximise their personal and organisational resources to achieve the objectives set by themselves or their stakeholders.
Coachable Moments - helping individuals to focus on and improve difficult relationships and situations, often using actors and may be short-term, working on a specific issue. Click here for further information and a case study.
Click here for further information and a case study
Coaching the Coach is a hands-on workshop designed to help managers learn and practice putting coaching skills into use in their day-to-day management style. Click here for more information and a case study.
Click here for further information and a case study
Assessment Coaching - this takes place in conjunction with the completion of any of the variety of assessment processes available today. These may be specifically designed for your organisation such as Development Days, 360 Degree Feedback etc or questionnaires such as Life Styles Inventory or The Leader Within, which our specialists are licensed to operate. The sessions would focus on managing the feedback, helping the coachee to recognise their strengths and weaknesses and developing strategies for skills and personal growth. We can be involved in the design of the assessment tools or simply offer the follow up support to those going through such a process.
Team Coaching - working with a group (whether a departmental team or a board of directors) to improve their overall performance and motivation. This aspect of coaching is closely linked to group facilitation and team development. It can include both individual and group coaching sessions and will involve the coach observing the way the team functions currently, assessing strengths and weaknesses and helping them develop a plan for addressing key issues. As well as dealing with 'team issues', this service can be a useful addition to your strategy planning cycle.
Learning Sets - these consist of a small group of people who meet at regular intervals in order to review and reflect on their learning and set new goals to be reviewed when the group next meets. Typically a group will consist of between four to six managers and a facilitator / coach, who meet one day every month or two. This support and challenge by people with a different perspective, often leads to new insights and a different course of action. It is often a useful addition to a cross-organisation management / leadership development programme.
Distance Coaching - this is generally offered as an supplement (rather than as an alternative) to face-to-face coaching sessions where additional support may be required between regular meetings.
All of the above services can be delivered for a set number of sessions or on an indefinite ongoing basis, as required. If you are unsure as to which type of coaching would suit your needs, please call us to discuss your personal situation. We can then recommend the best approach / coach for your circumstances.
Pearlcatchers can also help your Senior / HR team to create a coaching culture across your organisation, where coaching is the predominant style of managing and working together and where commitment to improving the organisation is embedded in a parallel commitment to improving the people.