Coaching with a Purpose

TTI Performance Systems, Ltd. 14The Plan of Action should include thefollowing considerations:Meeting ScheduleWill the coach and coachee meet in-person,have scheduled phone calls or both? Willthey communicate between scheduledmeetings via phone or email? Althoughcoaching tends to be face-to-face (58% inNorth America, 80% Internationally 14 ),it can take place over the phone, via weboptions or as a combination of all three.Coaching FeedbackWhat kind of information will the employeeshare with the coach when seekingsituational feedback? How will feedback beprovided to the employee?Skill Acquisition GoalsBased on the gap report, which specificskills will the coach and coachee work ontogether? Improvement in these areas willbe a measure of progress.Guided Learning GoalsWhat specific training activities will theemployee undertake based on the gapreport? Since skill acquisition is practicebased,it is important that the employeecomplete learning modules to understandthe targeted skill but does so in tandemwith activities to practice them. Completionof these learning modules and activities is ameasure of progress.Progress CommunicationHow and at what intervals will progressbe shared with the person’s employer? Thiscould include the direct manager, HR and/or others, and it should include anagreement about what aspects of coachingconversations will be kept confidential.DurationOver what time period will the coachingrelationship be conducted? The end datewill determine when success is measured.Business GoalsWhat specific performance goals areanticipated to be impacted by the end of thecoaching process? These will be a measureof coaching success.With the Action Plan clarified,coaching harnesses an individual’sdesire to learn in ways that willimprove their performance andgives them the guidance to buildcompetencies by practicing themon the job. The personal skills requiredfor superior performance on the job maybe understood through a conventionallearning process, but they are only masteredthrough experience and practice. Becausecoaching provides feedback in real time asevents unfold, the person benefits from anaccelerated skill acquisition process.©2010 Target Training International, Ltd. 102110 Coaching with a Purpose: Is Your Coaching Job Related? | 14