A Coaching Culture

Friday, 25 September 2009 07:32

Featured on The People Bulletin.  Please go to 'Links' page to view article on line.

Wendy Reeves looks at how organisations can engender a more supportive and nurturing working environment, reduce stress and enable employees to fulfil their potential

The current economic downturn has had a major impact on business. Saving on expenditure is being sought across every echelon of the business, and employees' outgoings are being scrutinised. But isn't this just good practise in any event?

Today, companies need to work smarter and leaner, and - more than ever - they need to retain the creme de la creme of their workforce. 

We all appreciate that the key to a successful business is the people behind it, and the most switched on employers understand that looking after their employees will always be a worthwhile investment.

Increasingly, companies are seeking the assistance of coaching, because they recognise that it can help as part of a programme to keep their top performers healthy and balanced, in order to maintain their high-level contribution to the company.  Never has there been a better time to be pro-active. 

Too often companies offer support, such as counselling to its employees, when the stress has become so apparent that it is resulting in absenteeism.  By this time, the damage has usually been done to that individual and - ultimately - it has an impact on the company's performance.  To ignore the well being of your staff, particularly those that hold demanding roles and are key to the company's bottom line, is self-sabotaging.

What is Coaching?

Coaching is a focused conversation that facilitates people to realise their own true potential.  This is achieved through asking the right questions, intense listening, challenging conversation, encouragement and support. A coach encourages you to explore options for moving forward, helps you make the right decisions and to set realistic goals. It is a tool that anyone can use to make positive practical changes to their lives.

Unless you've experienced coaching it can often be confused with counselling, consulting or training.  Coaching works on the future, it works on what 'is' possible, as opposed to dealing with issues from the past.  That is not to say that coaching doesn't refer to the past, but it does so in order to learn from and to help individuals to move forward. 

A non-directive approach works on the principle that you have the ability to come up with your own ideas and solutions.  It raises awareness and motivates you to increase your potential.

Stress in the workplace

As we know, stress can cause problems with health, both physically and emotionally.  A recent article published by Anastasia Stephens of The Independent states: "The effects of constant pressure - a form of chronic stress - are well-known."

Robert Sapolsky, professor of biological sciences at Stanford University and an authority on stress, puts it like this: "In fight-or-flight, your body turns off all the long-term building and repair projects. Constant high levels of cortisol take your body's eye off the ball. Memory and accuracy are both impaired. Patrols for invaders aren't sent out, you tire more easily, you can become depressed and reproduction gets downgraded."

Stephen's article went on to say: "Exposed to chronic stress for years, high blood levels of glucose and fatty acids increase the risk of cardiovascular disease and diabetes. A recent study at University College London found that stress raised cholesterol levels, another factor that increases the risk of cardiovascular disease".

Take, for example, a high performance car, we recognise the importance of an annual service to maintain its engine and look after our investment.  We need the same care and attention to ensure health, productivity and sustainability.  Coaching is a pre-emptive tool dealing with issues before they become deep-rooted and destructive.

Tips on how to look for signs of stress in an employee:

* A normally outgoing individual becomes withdrawn and less interactive.
* Working long hours
* Downturn in performance
* They often look tired and pale
* Tend to catch colds and flu regularly
* A loss of a sense of humour
* Mood swings
* Defensiveness

Of course, an easy assumption to make is that there could be personal problems.  That doesn't negate the help and support offered by employers.  Our work and personal lives dovetail, and whatever the long-term cause or problem, our performance in the work place will eventually be affected.

A company's aim should not only be to address problems or under performers, but also to unleash employee's potential.  Business owners and managers need to help successful staff become even more successful.  Sports coaching offers a good example - top performing athletes all have coaches to keep them at the top of their game, and I would argue that there should be no difference in business. 

Staff should be allowed sessions which provide 100% focus on them, allowing them to open up in a secure private environment that is non-judgemental and non-directional.  This will help them to become enlightened, empowered, grow in confidence and to achieve results. 


Organisational Culture

Top tips for creating an affective coaching culture:

* Adult-to-adult Approach.
No one benefits if systemically an organisation has a parent/child 'tell' culture.  The cost is poor motivation, lack of creativity and disempowerment.  Every organisation would say it wants its people to get on, but it can be hard to develop them consistently well. 

* Trust
A coaching culture nurtures employees' confidence, motivation and development, by creating a foundation of trust.  Not only will it bring out the best in people, it will help to align company values and its individuals.

* Role Models
For a healthy, open and dynamic culture, there needs to be a strong belief in others. Senior leaders need to demonstrate coaching skills, so that a coaching principle becomes embedded within the organisation.  It should be a natural process, a way of being - a behaviour, an ability to coach in the moment. 

* Empowerment
Empowering individuals in a supportive, transparent environment gets the best out of them. A thinking environment is a thriving environment.  People can think for themselves and take responsibility, thereby being less dependent on line management.  It's a win/win result. By tapping into employee talents and skills the organisation gains by improved and sustained performance, line management can be more strategic, and the employee is fulfilled through development and achievement. 

* Flexible Tool
Coaching is not always about developing people to the next level.  It can be about just dealing with the day-to-day issues in the workplace.  Particularly, in this current climate, organisational change is inevitable.  Redundancies, mergers and acquisitions, have a huge impact on employees, and they will be asking themselves 'what does this mean to me?'  During transitional periods, coaching needs to be adopted and adapted to suit.

* Open Dialogues
Conversations with open questions, good listening skills, without interruption become more powerful, as the quality of the exchanges improve.  Just by asking, how is this affecting you? Or, what are your concerns? can and will make a big difference.  

After a successful career in Human Resources, Wendy runs her own coaching practice helping individuals on a personal level, sole traders and small business owners.  As a consultant she has coached management at organisations, including: Sainsbury's, ASDA, Tesco's and United Biscuits.