Sunday, June 19, 2011

The 8 Key Skills for Effective Coaching



Coaching skills can turn a good manager or leader to a great manager or leader. So what are the 8 must have skills?

The power of coaching has been recognised in many areas for many years. Astute managers and leaders are starting to see coaching skills as a vital addition to their personal effectiveness toolbox. So what are they key skills that managers need to develop?

1. Listening

When growing up we received formal education on reading and writing but not how to listen. Yet when it comes to business, listening is probably one of the most important skills to have.

If as a manager you take on the role of coach, you need to learn to listen with real focus, suspending all of your judgements and opinions. You also need to be listening not just to the words but also to the non verbal signals such as body language.

2. Questioning

Most of us can ask questions. When coaching, you need to be using powerful questions. These are questions that:

Are short, typically 7 words or less
Are open rather than closed
Deepen the learning of the person being coached
Move the person forward towards a goal
Examples include:

What do you want?
What’s important?
What’s the first step?
3. Constructively Challenging

Challenging constructively is about not holding back but at the same time not destroying the relationship. Many people associate coaching with helping, which it clearly is. At the same time if the coaching never rocks the boat it just becomes another nice chat. Playing back contradictions is a great way of constructively challenging. For example:

“I hear that you want to get your MBA but at the same time you seem to be resisting making the time for assignments”

4. Holding To Account

Accountability is one of the most powerful aspects of coaching. It has been suggested that people have a 95% chance of achieving an objective when they have accountability in place. When someone gives a commitment to doing something and they know that they will be held to account, it drives then forward.

How effective are you at holding people to account as a manager?

5. Seeing different perspectives

Have you ever found yourself in a situation where it feels like you are pinned into a corner and there is no where to go? If so, chances are you were stuck in a perspective. When coaching, you need to be able to help your client to explore different perspectives, so that they can choose those that are most powerful.

6. Encouraging and supporting

Encouraging and supporting when coaching can be the difference between someone keeping going or giving up. Acknowledging another person is an incredibly powerful way of keeping them motivated.

7. Trusting and using intuition

We all have a hunch about something from time to time. Chances are that you have probably started to analyse it and make it logical or not. When coaching, your intuition is a powerful tool. Throw it out if it might be of benefit. The worst that can happen is that it is off the mark.

8. Keeping the focus on your client

When you are in the role of coach your focus needs to be 100% on your client and their agenda. What this means is putting all of the attention on the client and keeping your agenda out of the way.

These 8 key skills can not only help you when coaching but also make you an even better manager or leader. Take time to assess where you strengths lie and where you need to develop.

Sunday, May 29, 2011

Some Benefits of Life Coaching



It might sound funny at first to have a life coach. I mean, everyone lives their lives from day to day. Why on
earth would you need a “coach” to make it through? The point is not just making it through life. Rather, it
has much more to do with actually getting something out of life, fulfilling yourself and enjoying every minute
of life you get to experience.
In order to make the most of your years here on earth, you should really consider the services of a life
coach. Why, you may be asking? The following listing of benefits should help you understand just why life
coaching is vital to your happiness and success in all that you pursue.
Life Coaches Listen
A life coach is much like a therapist, in a way, because they are hired to listen to you. However, a life coach
is much more intent on actively helping you change your life for the better and moving forward, rather than
dwelling on the past. A life coach is great because he or she is paid to listen to you. Unlike a friend, you do
not have to reciprocate. This is a one-sided relationship all in your favor.
Life Coaches Keep You Focused
Life coaching can help you stay on the path you wish to stay on in life. For many people, it is difficult to
actively pursue their goals. With a life coach, you will be pushed to complete the tasks you wish to
complete. Rather than relying on your own gumption, you will have the external pressure of a life coach to
push you in the direction you want to go. It’s an extremely helpful method of creating goals and sticking to
them.

Life Coaches Always Tell the Truth
Unlike friends in your life, a life coach will always tell you the truth about yourself. Don’t expect to be
pandered or to be told what you want to hear by a life coach. That’s what the other people in your life are
for. A life coach can provide you with an objective view of yourself and your life. This is very beneficial when
you are facing tough decisions or trying to make excuses to get out of a tough situation.

Life Coaches Help You Overcome Obstacles
If you are facing obstacles in your life, a life coach can help build you up and overcome them. Whether it is
weaknesses, fears or bad habits, a life coach can teach you to reach down deep in order to harness the
strength you didn’t know you had.
http://www.peakperformanceguy.com

Monday, May 16, 2011

Empower Your Life Career With Various Growth Coaching and Life Skills Coaching Programs









Life Coaching and Techniques is a different approach to achieve meaning in your life. Personal Life Coaching and Professional Life Coaching are actually ways to get success and fulfillment in personal and professional life.

Coaching for Oneness, Life Skills Coaching and Spiritual Life Coaching and Employee Coaching can help in relieving from the burdens of life and help in leading a life with purpose. It helps to restore balance for continued growth and attainment of higher and higher goals.

Whether you are a manager, software specialist, human resource specialist, doctor, educator or entrepreneur, you can learn to lead and gather respect with every word you speak. This is power of words and we help you to develop your communication skills to make your C.V. more powerful and impressive. Leadership and Communication Training help you learn the art of communication.

Other training programs: Coaching & Leadership Style, Business Coaching Factors, Growth Coaching and Business Management Coaching encourage individuals and organizations to exceed the standards they set for themselves with improved communication and leadership skills

Searching for an effective methodology to develop leaders with spirit and competence, then Corporate Business Coaching, Leadership Coaching and Professional Business Coaching are the keys.

Rocket your business to success with Business Success Training and Strategic Business Coaching. Business Coaching not only helps clients attain better and improved outputs but also helps them achieve the most fruitful results through consistent and strategic focus that ensures deep personal engagement and organizational alignment.

Thursday, May 5, 2011

Coaching And Work Life Balance




Coaching And Work Life Balance How many times have you felt that you have been neglecting your responsibilities or ignoring important issues at home like spending time with your wife and family and doing simple things like having dinner with them? You may feel many times that you are sacrificing your home life as you are getting too much involved in your profession, and every day you may break a promise or two of an outing or a gift for your wife or children? The only solution for the cases above would be to seriously consider the situation and save your family life before it is too late.




You can in fact take consultation from a life coach who will help you in solving your problem and help you achieve the desired balance between your home and work life. Today many of us are extremely career oriented and would love to work for longer hours in office to create a career that is fulfilling and rewarding. But little do we know that your family is waiting for you at home expecting you any moment. It is not desirable to avoid your family matters for your work. A life coach can provide you with the ability to come up with a number of alternative solutions where you can complete your work in time everyday as well as also spend quality time with your family. However striking the right balance in your work life depends on a number of factors and hence it is very subjective.



The balance in your work life depends on the nature of your work, your responsibilities in the organization, your commitments to your family and many other factors. Hence life coaching will help you decide how much work has to be done in the allotted time and also help you achieve the results within the stipulated time. You will be able to learn to prioritize your work and then completing all the tasks for the day starting from work that requires the highest attention. It becomes necessary to identify the essentials in your home and business life such as career, recreation, relationships and also health.


You will need to know how much attention to devote to each of these essentials and achieve the desired balance between them. You will have to learn one of the greatest leadership skills, the ability to say “No” when the situation demands. Work life balance coaching helps you to become a cynosure for all eyes in office as well as your home. After undergoing work life balance coaching you will be 100 per cent sure that you will not disappoint your boss as well as your wife and children.


It would be best to work with a coach who has a real life experience of work balance. When you work with a great coach you are able to learn to get very close to achieving a perfect life and work balance. You should remember that you only live your life once and hence you should strive to make your present better. Proper coaching will help you decide what you really want in life and how can you achieve it. It will also help you make a time plan for your professional commitments as well as your duties and responsibilities at home.

Gerard ODonovan Founder and CEO of Noble Manhattan Coaching Ltd. One of Europes longest established coach training companies, and the CEO of the European Coaching Institute one of the world wide governing bodies from the profession of coaching. Gerards whose previous experience includes many years in the armed forces, he has applied the attitude of discipline and thoroughness to the development of his own business. He wishes Noble Manhattan to be seen as the foremost in offering an invaluable and professional service to all its clients, and he is able to achieve this because of his own accomplishments, bringing to the company extensive personal experience, knowledge and a unique style of teaching essential life skills. One of the most highly sought-after executive coaches in Europe. Gerard ODonovan Founder and CEO of Noble Manhattan Coaching Ltd. One of Europes longest established coach training companies, and the CEO of the European Coaching Institute one of the world wide governing bodies from the profession of coaching. Gerards whose previous experience includes many years in the armed forces, he has applied the attitude of discipline and thoroughness to the development of his own business.

Sunday, May 1, 2011

Coaching for better work performance




















Oops …… the “aliens have landed” or is it just about the small matter of understanding the concept. With the current merry-go-round of economic, corporate and global demands we are inadvertently faced with the pressures of skills retention in South Africa.

Disciplinary procedures can be seen as the simplistic process of a disciplinary hearing to deal with performance issues, and why not, for many decades this is how it was dealt with. But is it this simple?

The general consensus in some cases is that the Employee knows what is expected of them. The fantastic concept of accelerated programmes for advancement through the ranks to meet the set targets has proven in some instances to be a roller coaster ride to performance inconsistencies.

The long road on the South African employment market toward equal opportunities and skills development has left some industries lacking and others flooded.

Getting back to the Coaching and Mentoring concept. Coaching is a process of support, encouragement and goal setting to reach goals. Skills and competence transfer take place in a constructive and confidential relationship. Mentoring on the other hand is a trusted friend, counsellor or teacher with more experience to teach and guide or even be part of a “buddy” system to enhance workplace skills.

Fundamentally coaching more than any other skills development process has the capacity to support business improvement as it supports skills enhancement in a positive manner.

During the process of coaching for better work performance the focus is ultimately:
- An understanding of why people do what they do
- Highlights the downside of using punishment or punitive language
- Applying behaviour management techniques
- Creates a mindset of believing the right things to success
- Allows for constant coaching analysis and planning to change behaviour
- The process is completed on-the-job which enhances the learning process and relevance of application

In summary, the coaching process creates the opportunity for a fair and substantive grounding that supersedes the normal disciplinary code. A process aimed at a higher skills retention environment in an already challenged skills shortage market. Transformation it it’s full and glorious colours in the Corporate arena !!

Friday, April 29, 2011

Business Coaching For Starters



People of modern times are luckier in terms of opportunities. Why so? With developed societies that are now delving into the specifics, there is more room to explore fields and find a type of job that would work best for each person. Also, more ideas are being introduced to us by all kinds if influences. All it takes is the determination to seek for them. Meanwhile, as opportunities are ripening, establishing your own business can also be a chance for you to earn from your being an employer.





If you are interested in a particular field and you feel that you are good are can be better at it, that's your call to turn it into something productive and profiting. You always have to experience a trial period which will determine your standing in the industry. If the feedback is good, you can always find ways to improve on your operations. Business coaching can even be an alternative as you try to find your niche into the competitive streak of businesses that already exist.Surely, you are familiar with sports teams and the presence of a coach that mentors the players during practices and games.




What is he there for? Basically, the team needs someone to glue them together, someone more experienced who can tell them what went wrong and how each individual can develop potentials to ensure better playing capability. If we relate it to business jargon, mentoring might not be directly used as a substitute term, but like it, there is the constant need to derive at a good conclusion or a good outcome for every effort exerted.When you start a business, you always have to come up with a starting capital to pay for the expenses you need.




The money you would use might be from our savings or even loaned from the bank or someone you know. Money is never easy to play around with, thus in risking it you have to make sure that where it's going will be beneficial for your business. Business coaching will enable you to work on your skills and unleash any hidden potential that you may have kept inside unintentionally for you to work on what's best for the company. With the right tools in analyzing, you can successfully determine where you went wrong and how to solve it.Coaching is not only there to solve problems per se. A lot can be achieved once you subject yourself to the outside point of view of an expert. Take note that if you rely on your opinions alone, you may neglect to see the big picture. Thus with coaching, you can take a step back and know the roots of your problems and create a business plan that is good to you, your employers and the consumers. Also, since life is all about learning things, sooner or later you will be able to know that you have some skills in you that were just waiting to be developed and unleashed. Thus coaching can be liberating, as you free yourself from inhibitions and learn to value yourself and the help of others.




Being a newcomer puts on a lot of pressure for your part, thus you should be able to survive any challenge to prove to yourself and the people relying on you that the business you worked hard on will push through. Business coaching does not intend for you to be all too dependent, because that will be damaging once you are left behind to fend for your own. The sole purpose is to let you know where you went wrong and what you need to do to be successful in your chosen career.
Author Resource:- Two is always better than one. In business, don't just rely on your own expertise. Let Business Coaching work in as your back-up. Your business endeavor will never go wrong with trust Business Coach Harrisburg PA strategies no matter how small and weak your pursuits might be.