What Leo D’Angelo Fisher’s column in Financial Review (30/6/11) entitled Business Coaches: Just Another Bandwagon , correctly states is that entry to Executive Coaching as a profession is far too easy. Indeed anyone who wants to become a coach, and can create a flashy business card, shingle or is gifted in speaking may set up business.
But here is where it stops, and what D’Angelo Fisher may not have fully appreciate.
Coaching is often misunderstood and misrepresented by those who either don’t really have any first hand experience with it or have been misguided by a shonky or inexperienced coach.
Coaching should be left to professional coaches because:
But here is where it stops, and what D’Angelo Fisher may not have fully appreciate.
Coaching is often misunderstood and misrepresented by those who either don’t really have any first hand experience with it or have been misguided by a shonky or inexperienced coach.
Coaching should be left to professional coaches because:
- Trusted peers, friends, Boards, Chairman or valued colleagues often stand too close to the person and not the issue, and may have unconscious bias and therefore are not able to stand back from the problem or person with enough discretion.
- Boards, Directors etc may not necessarily be good listeners and give ADVICE prematurely in their attempt to help. Good Samaritans with big egos on Boards are not necessarily good coaches
- Others often try and solve the issues rather than present options. Coaching is a developmental process that allows for taking time to learn without fear
- Business leaders often MENTOR or can try and COUNSELL their peers or staff members - this is NOT COACHING. Sadly, the information and recommendations are ineffective and inadequate, and not directly related to COACHING the person through a concern, problem, or skills development. Well intentioned business leaders are not qualified Counsellors either… so begs the question why they try and give counselling
- The column needs to come from the mouth and heart and voice of those who have been coached.
Coaching is based on developing someone's skills. This is where the confusion lies - Not everyone understands the role and expectations of both the coach and the coachee. Just like most businesses where people don't really know what others are doing.
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