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The professional partnership between a qualified coach and an individual or team that supports the achievement of extraordinary results.

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Develop successful coaching competencies and skills by applying a comprehensive model to individual, team, and organizational coaching initiatives.

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TD Magazine Article

Conflict Is a Stressor

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Facilitation Styles and Techniques

Leadership & Coaching, September 2024

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How to Balance Compassion and Boundaries at Work

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Heroic Leadership Is Dead: It’s Time to Build Collective Leadership

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When executives want to measure the ROI of training, they rarely focus on hard skills. In fact, 90 percent of the time, they are trying to find the value of their investment in soft skills training. It is usually harder to identify the connection of those skills to strategic objectives. Resources are always limited, and there will always be more requests for the budget than dollars to fulfill those requests. So, as leaders make choices and trade-offs, they will be looking for evidence of ROI. You should recognize the importance of these inquiries to present a compelling case. When the executive asks for justification, what should you know?When making an investment, there are two measurements you should pay close attention to. The most obvious is the result you hope to get from making the investment. The other is the behavior or action you believe will create that result. For example, your organization may be seeking to increase the number of leads you receive. That is the result you are targeting. The behavior, or action, would be the purchase of online advertising. If you want the result of an increased number of prospects for the sales team, the action you may take is hiring and training more inside sales reps. What are the behavior and result measures for coaching?Leaders commonly make the mistake of saying the result measure for coaching is the act of coaching. The result measure of coaching is NOT coaching itself; rather, it is the outcome or goal that coaching was applied to. For example, you may be trying to reduce staff turnover—that’s your result. Take note of the current turnover rate and target what rate would represent a satisfactory change. Lower turnover means fewer new hires, saving significant costs ranging from a third to double the annual salary per hire for recruiting, training, and other startup expenses. Beyond those savings, consider the productivity boost from a more engaged and stable team. These benefits offer a clear metric for your result. Your behavior is to train your teams in coaching and to assure they practice and use it. The behavior of coaching now has a quantifiable result upon which to weigh the cost of coaching, helping you understand the real return on your investment.Deciding to invest time or money in coaching means either you are facing a challenge you wish to overcome or seizing an opportunity for growth. Here are some examples of how you can apply coaching to a strategic objective:Business PriorityResultsBehaviorsROI (Possible Metrics):Enhance leadership effectivenessIncrease in leadership competenciesDevelop leadership skills across all levelsKPIs related to team performance, project completion rates, and overall organizational productivityChanges in voluntary turnover rates and length of employee tenurePromotion rates, internal mobility, and leadership succession planning effectivenessBoost customer satisfaction and loyaltyIncrease in customer satisfaction scoresImprove service delivery and product qualityPercentage of customers making multiple purchases or renewing servicesCustomer Lifetime Value (CLV) or repeat customer revenueNumber of complaints, support requests, and ticket resolution timeOptimize operational efficiencyReduction in operational costsStreamline processes and reduce wasteReduction in operational costs, such as labor, materials, or overheadTime taken to complete core processes, such as production cycles, customer orders, or service deliveryUtilization rates of equipment, technology, and other assetsFoster innovation and creativityIncrease in the number of new ideas generatedCultivate a culture of innovationPercentage of revenue generated from newly introduced products or servicesTime taken from idea conception to product or service launchAmount of cost savings generated from innovative process improvementsStrengthen cross-functional collaborationIncrease in the number of successful cross-functional projectsImprove interdepartmental communication and teamworkKPIs for cross-functional teams, such as output, quality of work, and achievement of key milestonesThe time it takes cross-functional teams to resolve complex issues or challengesEmployee engagement scores or satisfaction surveys focused on teamwork and interdepartmental cooperationThere are four simple questions that can help you build the ROI case for a coaching program:What are we aiming to change?Where do we currently stand?Where do we aspire to be?What is the value of achieving this difference?When faced with questions about ROI and the impact of coaching is unclear, it’s important to reflect on your objectives and the measurable differences you aim to achieve. Coaching isn’t merely an assumption of improvement; it’s the catalyst that propels all your strategies forward, enhancing effectiveness and ensuring smoother operations across the board.

The ROI of Coaching: A CEO’s Perspective

Your commitment to these core values will determine the success and authenticity of your coaching business.

5 Essential Standards Every Coach 

Have you ever wondered what truly lies at the heart of a successful coaching relationship? While methods and techniques are important, mutual respect and trust serve as the fundamental components of any successful coaching relationship. Coaching agreements, even the best ones, often fall short without these essential components. So, how can you, as a coach, create an environment where your clients feel valued, respected, and empowered to grow?1. Active Listening: The Gateway to UnderstandingActive listening is one of the most crucial skills in establishing trust and safety. Clients are more willing to open up and participate in the coaching process when they feel heard and understood. Active listening includes observing the client’s tone, body language, and underlying emotions in addition to hearing what they are saying. Often it involves hearing what the client is not saying. Coaching research highlights that active listening creates a safe space where clients can express themselves without worrying about being judged.Maintaining eye contact, nodding to indicate understanding, and briefly summarizing the client’s words to guarantee clarity are all important components of active listening. By doing this, you show them that you value their input, which in turn establishes trust and safety.2. Empathy: Connecting on a Human LevelOne’s ability to understand and connect with another person’s emotions is known as empathy. Empathy is crucial for developing solid rapport with clients in coaching sessions. Research suggests that clients are more likely to fully participate in the coaching process when they perceive their coach to be truly interested in their experiences and feelings.Empathy involves putting yourself in the client’s shoes and acknowledging their emotions without trying to fix or change them. It’s about being present and offering support in a non-judgmental way. Empathetic coaching, according to research, improves client outcomes by making clients feel understood and supported.3. Establishing Clear Boundaries: Defining the Coaching RelationshipIn a coaching partnership, mutual respect starts with clearly defined boundaries. By defining boundaries, you can make sure that the client and the coach are aware of the parameters of the relationship and what is expected of them. Establishing limits clearly helps to avoid misunderstandings and fosters a professional atmosphere where trust can grow.At the start of the coaching session, talk about expectations in order to set boundaries. Clearly define the roles and responsibilities of the coach and the client, and be open and honest about the boundaries of the coaching relationship. In addition to promoting respect, this clarity gives clients the confidence to take charge of their own journey.4. Consistency: Building Trust Through ReliabilityTrust in any relationship, including coaching, is based on consistency. Clients feel safe and confident in the coaching process when coaches exhibit consistency in their conduct, communication style, and approach. Consistency demonstrates reliability, which is crucial for building and maintaining trust.To guarantee consistency, be punctual, honor your word, and maintain a steady approach in your coaching sessions. Clients are more inclined to put their trust in a coach who is consistent and fosters a solution and growth-oriented atmosphere.5. Authenticity: Being Genuine in Your Coaching ApproachIn the coaching context, authenticity refers to being genuine to oneself and completely present with your clients. When a coach is sincere, it is apparent to their clients, and this authenticity builds greater connection and trust. Authenticity involves being honest about your thoughts, feelings, and experiences while maintaining professionalism.By being authentic, you show your clients that you are not just a coach but a real person who cares about their growth and success. This honesty encourages clients to be authentic in return, creating a coaching environment where mutual respect and trust can thrive.The Foundation of Successful Coaching RelationshipsCreating a culture of trust and respect in coaching is a continuous process rather than a one-time endeavor. You can establish a coaching relationship that enables your clients to realize their greatest potential by cultivating skills like active listening, empathy, boundary-setting, consistency, and authenticity. Never forget that developing a relationship of trust and respect with clients is the foundation of any successful coaching session. As you continue on your coaching journey, consider how you can further develop these essential skills. What steps will you take today to build stronger, more trusting relationships with your clients? 

5 Essential Skills to Strengthen Trust and Respect in Coaching Sessions

September 2024 - TD Magazine

In-house programs can be a means to upskill staff.

Connect Mentors and Mentees for Low-Cost Development

In the workplace, leaders who coach their direct reports set up their teams—and organizations—for success.

Group coaching breaks down organizational silos and taps into the power of peer pressure to help group members hold each other accountable.

TD MAGAZINE

TD MAGAZINE

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