Coaching for Success in the Workplace
an article by Kris King

Great coaching has long been honored in the sports arena as essential for winning teams. A coach who can turn around a losing team to become a winning team is highly regarded, sought after and well paid. What do sports coaches do? They assist each team member to be the best they can be through forming a vision of the player they want to become, then through disciplined use of their talents, skills and ability fulfilling their vision while interrelating effectively with their team. A great coach makes a powerfully positive difference, not only in winning the contest, but also in touching the lives of the players...often times in ways that last a life time.

In the past ten years another kind of coaching industry has mushroomed in the US, the field of professional and personal coaching. Using many of the same principles as sports coaching except the elements of competition or win/lose, coaching assists individuals to get clear on what they want (vision), strengthen their skills, set goals that are important to their professional/personal life...and to take effective action. Coaching is an individual professional relationship with its foundation resting solidly on accountability, values based goal setting and skilled support for success. The professionalism of the coaching relationship also increases the level of intention, or commitment on the part of the one being coached...stepping up to the plate!

How does coaching relate to the workplace? I believe it is a highly effective tool to use from the top down. CEO's, Managers and Supervisors very often have no one to "bounce things off of," to give them honest and constructive feedback, to support them in new skill building or to give them a fresh perspective, an outside view. They are often too busy with the process of running the business to have time to effectively coach their employees. What happens as a result is vast amounts of human potential lay untapped because nobody has the time or the specific skills to tap it.

Consulting is a time-honored tool for enhancing group dynamics and productivity through effective communication, team building, resolving conflicts and clarity of vision. Coaching is the one of best tools I know of for personal peak performance in any area the individual wants to grow. It's important to remember coaching is for increased performance. It is not to be used to correct inadequate performance. There other strategies are called for.

Sometimes working hard and doing it on your own makes things just that...hard. If you want your time and energy to be spent maximizing your professional/personal talents, goals and happiness, this may be a time to check out a coach for you, not for your kids!

How to choose a coach? Word of mouth, ask people you know who are successful and you may be surprised how many have coaches! Research. There are books and magazines about coaching. If you want to use the web for more information about coaching, check out the web site of the International Coaching Federation. www.coachfederation.org

"There is no scarcity of opportunity to make a living at what you love. There is only a scarcity of resolve to make it happen!" — Wayne Dyer

Here's to your success ... make it happen.

Kris King is the President and Founder of Wings Seminars offering leadership, personal, professional and teen effectiveness training in Eugene since 1982.