Coaching
Coaching is a hot trend in a growing number of companies, from IBM and Dow Chemical to entrepreneurial start-ups. According to a recent study by Hay Group, an international human resources consultancy, between 25 percent and 40 percent of Fortune 500 companies use executive coaches. A coach is defined as “part advisory, part sounding board, part cheerleader, part manager and part strategist (Business Journal).” Coaching can occur in one-on-one face-off between the coach and business person, by telephone, in small groups, and even in the group conference calls. Recently, a client of mine who owns a cleaning franchise acoustic tile, I was so happy with the results of our training sessions, which organized the training group sessions for her phone and other franchise owners. The benefits are enormous. Not only franchise owners to save time and money to give a session telephone group, all receive the same information at the same time, networks and exchange opportunities, and a spirit of teamwork has evolved. Coaching not only occurs in one-hour session each week. I give my clients reading assignments and “homework” to do between sessions.
One exercise I often use with clients is to show them all your business and take two things that affect your business more. Then we can determine one or two things in each area that would give the biggest bang for your buck. After doing this exercise, a customer chose back in touch with former clients and tell them all the services your company offers. Within a week, had three new proposals to bid. John Russell, CEO of Harley-Davidson Europe Ltd, comments:“It never ceases to amaze me the power of the coaching process to get the skills or talent that is no longer hidden within an individual, and always finds a way to solve a problem that seemed impossible solve.” The coaching has not only helped my clients? That has given me great satisfaction. I like to take my experience working for organizations and own my own business and helping others grow their businesses. You can almost hear the people are breathing a sigh of relief. It can absolutely make the difference between a business person is now and where he / she really wants to be.