Summary

Coaching has taken on a permanent role as a way of improving individual performance within an organization. This book is for people interested in becoming coaches within an organization and those already practicing. It explains the skill and competencies required to be an outstanding coach at work. The book clearly defines and explains the nature of coaching and how it works, outlining the different theories and models to present a balanced, objective perspective of the subject. The authors show that coaching is an on-going dialogue: a collaboration between two individuals that encourages learning, development and work performance improvement in the pursuit of skill development goals. It can be adopted at any level in the workplace, educational institution, sporting arena or personal life. The authors reveal what personal quallities are necessary in order to be a successful coach. They discuss coaching and communication skills, and show you how to set strategic goals and develop an action plan. The book also analyzes the contribution of coaching to the processes of change and learning, explaining the different styles of learning, the importance of establishing a learning culture within an organization, and the degree of self-exploration necessary for the individual to achieve sustained behavorial change. The authors also consider in greater detail three specific coaching areas: coaching in call centers, sales coaching, and career coaching, and explain the differences from other related occupations that are often associated with coaching, such as consulting, mentoring, training and counseling, and how all of othem work together.