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Leadership Coaching
Products - Leadership Coaching
The rise and rise of leadership coaching |
| Harbour Future Leaders designs and runs executive and mid-level leadership coaching programs for many of our clients, usually but not always in conjunction with a broader leadership curriculum. We boast an international network of leadership coaches, as well as our own team of very experienced coaches. Demand for coaching to supplement more traditional forms of leadership skills development has grown significantly in the last few years, and evidence from research, and indeed anecdotal experience, indicates that executive leadership coaching is successful in helping executives develop sustainable leadership skills. |
| What is Executive Leadership Coaching? |
| In a business context, ‘Coaching’ is a process whereby an employee meets with a trained Coach over a period of time for a number of one-on-one sessions – to address individual personal development needs – often in the areas of performance, leadership skills, or interpersonal habits of behaviour. The need for coaching is usually identified as a result of a prior assessment program in an enterprise where staff members are evaluated against desired company competencies. The assessment process produces information on individual’s capabilities, skills gaps, potential, and strengths and weaknesses. Coaching is one of the options available to close gaps or develop leadership attributes. Coaching is a proven methodology particularly with senior executives, who usually have entrenched modes of behaviour that have been learned and reinforced over a period of time. These modes of behaviour are rarely able to be changed by traditional training methods or by the executive themselves, without external assistance. These especially include the development of interpersonal skills and relationship building competencies. The coach in that regard is particularly effective, because he/she is not a member of the participant’s enterprise, and therefore presents no threat. Moreover, the trust built from the confidentiality of the coach/participant relationship ensures that the participant can be open and frank with the coach on their weaknesses and fears. |
| How does Coaching work? |
| Our program starts with a thorough understanding of our client enterprise’s needs, both now and for the future. For senior executives, honest feedback is often hard to find, and for some, a change in personal style or behaviour may be critical to their success. Working one-on-one with senior executives, we focus on solutions, not problems. The person being coached is the expert in their career and their life. The coach works with them to support, and at times, challenge them, to help them find the answers and implement practical actions. Our coaching programs usually extend over a three to six month period, with regular 1.5-2 hours face to face coaching sessions, with phone contact as required. We often include assessment tools to help the client focus on areas of development and action plans, and, while confidentiality is assured, we also maintain communication with the client enterprise on overall progress toward goals. |
| Our Coaches |
| We have a range of coaches from a variety of backgrounds, chosen to suit both the needs of the client and the client enterprise. Our coaches include men and women with strong business and life experience, and include senior corporate and business executives, many with international experience, enterprise psychologists and Human Resource professionals. Each coach operates under a strict code of ethics, and is committed to meeting the client’s needs. |
| Objectives |
| Just as a Sports Psychologist would work with an athlete, we work with an executive to: |
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| Method |
| The method we use is a combination of: |
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| How is Coaching different from Mentoring? |
| There is often some confusion between coaching and mentoring. While mentors demonstrate many of the same competencies as coaches, and use many of the same skills, mentoring involves a ‘trusted advisor’ relationship between a senior employee and a staff member undergoing a development journey. The mentor is internal to a company and acts as a supporter and sounding board for the mentee – encouraging them and providing guidance on professional relationships, processes, behaviours, business issues, enterprise challenges, and decisions. A mentor does not traditionally participate in any activities or actions, but serves as a listener and gives an informed opinion. For further information about how we execute leadership coaching programs for our clients, please contact us. |
