Online coaching
As LinkedIn Global Talent Trends continue to show that upskilling is one of employees' top five priorities, employers look to offer new learning opportunities. As a result, coaching stands out as one of the most requested employee benefits.
While in the past coaching seemed to be only for executives and high potentials, a Harvard Business Review research shows that making the learning experience more individualized matters to increase retention. This need for a customized experience allows employees at all levels to access coaching for the first time.
Every professional needs a coach
Professionals like lawyers or doctors were normalizing that their development was only about attending seminars and getting certificates. Still, business executives started to explore coaching. But why is it that it is so different in sports, where everybody on the team gets to be coached? Usually, they have more than one coach: in football, for instance, there is a head coach, assistant coach, goalkeeper coach, fitness trainer and physiotherapist. Surgeon Atul Gawande puts it beautifully in his Ted talk, "everyone needs a coach to master their craft." He adds, "Great Coaches are your external eyes and ears, providing a more accurate picture of your reality, breaking your actions down and helping you build them back again."
What happens is that improving is a never-ending job; there is always something you can work on. But, unfortunately, you may not realize it until you get fired or your role becomes redundant unless you can have someone else to help you see from a different perspective.
Leaders are usually expected to cover this role, overseeing performance and helping employees grow. Still, over the past years, and especially after the pandemic, leaders have been overwhelmed and unable to cover team members' need for coaching, feedback and personalized attention. While in the office, teachable moments could be more frequent and informal. Coaching needs to be more intentional with more employees working remotely, but instead, it is being neglected.
What is coaching
The International Coaching Federation defines coaching as "a partnering process with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential."
Again, just like in sports, coaches don't need to be experts on the subject they discuss, but through a one-on-one conversation, they support the person to find their own solution, unleash their strengths and remove their blocks.
Coaches offer sessions face-to-face, online, or on the phone. Some are connected to a coaching platform that offers other coaches, while others have their own practice. The pandemic particularly popularized online coaching, not only because access to coaches is more affordable and available everywhere in all languages, but also because it is an alternative to therapists for mental health issues like depression, anxiety or ADHD.
Coaching is often compared to going to a psychologist; sometimes called "corporate therapy", but it is not the same. Certified coaches are trained to refer to therapy when the issues are out of their scope. Still, both are compatible; many coachees have their therapists to discuss personal matters.
What does a coaching session look like?
Toby Hervey, Co-Founder and CEO of Bravely, one of the first coaching platforms available for all employees, says, "Each person's experience and needs at work are unique, and individual coaching has tremendous power to unlock performance and maximize potential."
Especially people from underrepresented groups are more in need of these sessions: Toby says that 61% of sessions are completed by women, 45% by people of color, and 12% by LGBTQ+ people.
Sessions are between 30 to 90 minutes. Topics could range from self-confidence and imposter syndrome to career growth, time management, and a role-play to address a difficult conversation.
How is coaching impacting the bottom line?
Studies show that 80% of people who receive coaching report increased self-confidence, and over 70% benefit from improved work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills.
Whether you have the opportunity to access a coaching platform through your work or decide to choose your private "thinking partner", this is an opportunity you give yourself to bring to light blocks you have had for years and boost strengths. It may be painful initially, but it is an investment for the future, part of your career cushioning.
