BlueApricot

Though the concept of team coaching is not new (think sports), most businesses stick with individual one-to-one coaching, primarily to support up and coming talent or deal with perceived skills shortages of individual employees. This is a pity and makes little sense when you think about the sheer number of teams across most businesses, and consider how many of them are enduring problems impacting on performance and productivity. On top of that, many teams suffer low morale which impacts their ability to achieve on their goals.

Will there be a time when team coaching in the business world becomes more widespread and celebrated? What will it take?

First, let me explain what I mean by team coaching. Team coaching focusus on the team as a single entity (rather than a set of individuals) and as a system of relationships, work processes, goals and context. For teams to excel there has to be a clear, common purpose, effective communication and trust, supportive leadership, and accountability for achieving desired outcomes. Coaching supports a candid exchange among team members how the team can do better as well as direct feedback on how things are being accomplished (or not). Many team coaches use a team diagnostic to kick off the frank conversation that has, in some cases, been stifled for months, if not years. It can be like releasing a pressure cooker!
Team coaching not only focuses on problems and tensions. Rather, team coaching is aimed at improving productivity and morale to raise the team’s overall performance and sense of fulfilment. Isn’t that what we need more of?

See the next post for ‘What it will take for team coaching to spread’.