Coaching – Your Strategic Advantage Pam Aikman Executive Vice President –Canadian Cancer Society BCY President – Tapestry Consulting Certified Executive Coach 11 September 2008 APF Breakfast

“Real education consists of drawing the best out of yourself.” Mahatma Mohandas Ghandi

What is Coaching? Coaching is an ongoing, rich conversation between a coach and coachee that leads to discovery and over time, change and action by the coachee.

Coaching Conversation The richness of the conversation is: premised in the principles of dialogue- the coach’s curiosity, interest, ability to suspend judgment and ability to listen strengthened by the relationship between the coach and coachee fostered by mutuality, respect, trust, unconditional positive regard

“Relationship is surely the mirror in which you discover yourself” Krishnamurti

Training Counseling Confronting Mentoring

When to Coach Performance review Breakdowns Broken promises Request for coaching Need for a new skill Business need – quality, increased revenue Flaherty (2005)

Change in Behaviour Performance Time No coaching Coaching TrainingCoaching

Components of Coaching Define issues and bring them into focus Establish the role and power in dealing with the issue Envision success and the necessary steps for success Ensure accountability Questioning Honest feedback Appreciation

Try it out… What would you like to focus on improving in your work? What would success look like? What is holding you back? What is one action you could take in moving in this direction? When? How can I hold you accountable for this?

Types of Coaching Internal coaching Professional coaching Team coaching Peer coaching - triads

The Value Proposition Areas of business impact may include: Increased profitability Improved management of risk areas Reduced critical incidents Increased staff retention Improved recruitment Improved adaptability to change and organizational restructuring Improved talent management and succession planning Reduced sick time and stress leave Improved career transitions and retirements Improved governance practices

Examples…

“It’s a funny thing about life; if you refuse to accept anything but the best, you very often get it.” Somerset Maughan

What Can You Do? How to introduce coaching into your organization: –Internal coaches –Peer coaches –Mentoring program –Pro bono coaching ie. RRU –????

“It is impossible for man to learn what he thinks he already knows.” Epictetus

Questions????????