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Coaching Top Performers
Comments by Wendy Reeves, founder of LifeGoal (www.lifegoal.co.uk)
The current economic downturn is continuing to having a major impact on business. Today, companies need to work smarter and leaner, and - more than ever - they need to retain the crème de la crème of their workforce.
Employee outgoings are being scrutinised and saving on expenditure is being sought across every echelon of the business. But isn't this just good practise in any event?
We all know that the key to any successful business is the people behind it, and the most switched on employers appreciate that looking after their employees will always be a worthwhile investment.
More and more companies are seeking the assistance of coaching because they recognise its value and the importance of keeping their high performers healthy and balanced in order to maintain their high-level contribution to the company. Never has there been a better time to be pro-active. Too often companies offer support, such as counselling, to its employees when the stress has become apparent resulting in absences from work. By which time, the damage is done to that individual and - ultimately - the company's performance. To ignore the well being of your staff, particularly those that hold demanding roles and are key to the company's bottom line, is self sabotaging.
Take, for example, a high performance car, we recognise the importance of an annual service to maintain its engine and look after our investment. We need the same care and attention to ensure health, productivity and sustainability. Coaching is a pre-emptive tool dealing with issues before they become deep rooted and destructive.
Many believe that coaching just addresses problems or under performers, this isn't the case. Not only can coaching help unleash people's potential, it can also help successful people become even more successful. Sports coaching offers a good example - top performing athletes all have coaches to keep them at the top of their game, and I would argue that there should be no difference in business.
Group training has its place. But coaching offers individuals 100% focus on them, allowing them to open up in a secure private environment that is non-judgemental and non-directional. It helps clients become enlightened, empowered, grow in confidence and to achieve results.
How to look for signs of stress in an employee:
• A normally outgoing individual becomes withdrawn and less interactive.
• Working long hours
• Downturn in performance
• They often look tired and pale
• Tend to catch colds and flu regularly
• A loss of a sense of humour
• Mood swings
• Defensiveness
Of course, an easy assumption to make is that there could be personal problems. That doesn't negate the help and support offered by employers. Our work and personal lives dovetail, and whatever the long-term cause or problem, our work performance will eventually be affected.
After a successful career in Human Resources, Wendy runs her own coaching practice helping individuals on a personal level, sole traders and small business owners. As a consultant she has coached management at organisations, including: Sainsbury's, ASDA, Tesco's and United Biscuits.
« Back to News | Published: 07/07/10