Lordanou & Hawley in their book “Values and Ethics in Coaching” describe a business coaching relationship as:
A developmental intervention based on conversations that foster curiosity and courage, through mutual respect, that lead to new understandings and the opportunity to flourish.
Done well, it offers individuals and teams a safe space to think, reflect and take responsibility for their actions. It is the ability to assist people develop their own skills, capabilities and habits to support more effective functioning.
It is a highly flexible, principles based, contemporary environment where quality conversation is desired over goal focused manipulation. It avoids where the culture of the organisation begins to inorganically blend with an individuals.
To illustrate what business coaching is not, consider an adapted business help continuum below, developed to illustrate the different professional service help available to most organisations today. Coaching is not about teaching, mentoring or a deep diving into any person’s psychology.
It is not to advise or manipulate an interaction to arrive at a pre-defined outcome. Nor is it to provide 360 degree feedback. Nor is it to counsel. It is the ability to work on an equal basis, ask the right questions and help and individual or team ‘solve it for themselves’.
Our Development Programs for Delivery Team’s adopt a coaching mindset. I’ve been fortunate to have 25 years of delivery experience, and I have huge empathy for most Delivery Team situations faced today, as I’ve most likely been there.
Importantly, having walked in a Delivery Leader’s shoes, I also understand is that most often they do not want or need another advisor telling them what they could or should do.
Often, Delivery Teams need someone to ask them the right questions and structure a difficult conversation.
And that’s what we are all about. Our core belief that it is harnessing and growing a Delivery Team’s passion, purpose, values, virtues, capabilities and style is to key to effective delivery in today’s complex corporate environment.
It’s not about the best solution, or the most detailed plan, or the best progress reporting. Its about communication, empathy and understanding.
Think about it next time you’re looking to provide a Delivery Team some further support in a time of need.
Maybe its about asking them an important question, not providing them a poignant answer?