Executive Coaching - A Guide For The HR Professional.pdf

Executive Development and Coaching 113
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plans are included in the program design, coaching in conjunction
with the plans creates the continuity between the classroom and
the on-job experiences.
Another helpful methodology occurs when the coach serves as a
team facilitator during breakout sessions. Under this scenario, the
role played by the coach is established early for the participants. At
the same time, the coach gains an understanding of the program’s
purpose and principles and gets to know the participants. The coach
also has the opportunity to see the interactions of the individual or
the team. This information can prove to be very useful for the coach
during the follow-up period, which may rely heavily on telephone
rather than face-to-face interactions. The coach can use the insights
gained from the face-to-face interactions to guide the individual
and the team. If there is no opportunity to involve the coach in the
classroom portion of the program, then it is important to find a way
to provide the coach with the understanding of what had occurred
during the initial program experience.
Advantages of Incorporating Coaching
into an Executive Development Program
Coaching reinforces the learning objectives. When the program design
includes the assignment of coaches to an individual or to a team,
there is a greater likelihood that there will be a strong focus on the
developmental objectives. As the team goes about its various activities,
the coach can help to keep the team focused on the program’s
learning objectives or goals. The coach can point to particular
events or situations that represent an opportunity to extract new
learning points.
Coaching can help the individual achieve developmental goals. Sometimes
the mere presence of a coach ensures that the development
action plans created during the formal session will more likely be
completed. Motivation can be enhanced when the individual
knows that a coach has been assigned, and there is the presence of
another party requiring accountability.