Just like an athlete uses a coach to improve their performance, so too can a manager engage a coach to improve their effectiveness and efficiency as a manager by changing their behaviours.

How can a coach improve behaviour?

• Observe / review and provide an analysis of performance including areas of strength, weakness and opportunities to improve
• Provide specific feedback to target areas where performance needs improvement
• Provide actions or exercises that can be done to improve performance
• Monitor outcomes to review change in behaviour
• Provide ongoing feedback and support on ways to improve behaviour
• Provide accountability

What can you expect in a coaching program?

Every organisation and coach offers a slightly different way of coaching and it’s important you find the right coach to fit you and your needs.

Understanding yourself

Many organisations use profiling and assessment tools to identify your particular approach to work and relationships, your preferred learning styles and your key capabilities and interests. These tools are designed to help you take a step back and understand why you do the things that you do and how these might differ from other people.  For some people this increased self-awareness is all they need to start making change in their behaviours.

Setting objectives

When working with a coach, you should have some clear objectives to work towards. Sometimes you will already know what these are and at other times you will need to work with the coach to assess your current situation and uncover what objectives you would like to achieve. It is very important that you and your coach agree on the objectives so that your time with the coach can be focused on your needs. Remember your objectives may change as time goes on and this is ok, you just need to reset them with your coach to make sure you’re both on the same page.

Making change

Your coach will work with you to set up strategies to help you change your behaviours. The approach they choose will depend on your personal development style, your current situation and your objectives. Some examples of activities include:

• Completing a self-reflection tool such as a journal and then reviewing it in the coaching session
• Conducting role plays within a coaching session to practice new behaviour then carrying it out back in your workplace. During the following coaching session you will have an opportunity to review what happened and evaluate your performance and plan additional activities to change behaviour
• Providing resources to read to improve knowledge base

At FMI we use a personalised approach to coaching to suit your specific needs. We get to know the individual, their goals and aspirations and work with them to develop a tailored strategic plan to develop their capabilities and achieve their targets.

If you would like to know more about FMI’s coaching services please contact us, we will be happy to help.