You’ll know it’s time to build a coaching culture when:
- Your organisation is going through change (see my previous post) (oh, wait, isn’t that every organisation?!)
- Decisions are being made at levels that are paid too much for the complexity of those decisions
- Strategic imperatives that affect the long-term future of the organisation are not getting the attention they need
- Diversity of thought is not actively sought, leading to lack of innovation
- Leaders are complaining that they don’t have enough time
- Individuals are generally disengaged and making minimal effort, despite their high calibre
- There are complaints of bullying, that appear to be caused by an abrupt command and control leadership style
What will a Coaching Culture feel like?
I’m not going to be Pollyanna-ish and say that a coaching culture will create a totally perfect working environment (because we’re all human), but it will feel very different:
- The environment will be one of support AND challenge (Daloz) See a previous post about this.
- Conversations will start with an agreement about what needs to be achieved, what success will be like, and how the participants will work together towards that (STOKRS)
- Conversations will continue with open questions that enable the person to think for themselves, my previous post about Powerful Questioning can help
- People will feel heard, really heard not just superficially
- Conversations will include direct, timely, honest feedback
- There will be a feeling of progress and learning
What will a Coaching Culture look like?
As a result:
- People will regain their performance edge sooner as they transition through the change curve
- Decisions will be made at the level they should be made at
- Individuals will feel more fulfilled, challenged and engaged
- Strategic thinking will be given higher importance and time
- There will be more diverse thinking and innovation
- Leaders will feel more fulfilled, challenged and engaged
- The business will be seen to be growing instead of stagnating
What else have you experienced as a result of creating a coaching culture?
