How often would you have encountered a manager or executive who needed business coaching 101 and the thoughts of someone who is impartial and objective in helping him or her navigate a very delicate situation at work?

If you’re thinking of venturing into business coaching, perhaps it’s time to look at how the business coaching 101 game has evolved over the years and understand the roles a coach plays in business organizations.

Business Coaching 101: Models for the Workplace

The earliest coaching models date back the 1950s and through the 1980s, they were still static models. It wasn’t until the 1990s, when sports coaching models began to grow in popularity.

The traditional coaching model that was built around change models like the grow model, action planning, goal setting, etc. fall very short of creating lasting behavior competencies that are measurable. Using a ‘one-size-fits-all’ approach is simplistic and ineffective because it ignores the person’s behavioral pattern that controls how the skill that’s going to be improved is executed.

The 21st century professional coaching is a combined approach that the behavioral sciences founded. Today’s coaching model includes personal beliefs, development, attitudes, values, motivation, social learning and emotions along with organizational and personal dynamics.

A coaching model needs to be flexible and adaptable so that it can be tailored to the specific needs of the client. Coaching models for the workplace need to be effective in the long run. They shouldn’t provide the answers, but rather the circumstances for the participant(s) to come up with their own solutions that will work.

The coach is a bit like a sounding board opening up a dialogue that will help the participants to grow and prosper and that can help a business to grow and prosper as well.

Business coaching works best in environments where there is a desire to be practical, progressive and proactive but at the same time there is opportunity to challenge and stimulate.

Business Coaches 101: Understanding the Roles of a Business Coach

A business coach can help businesses build a foundation that’s grounded so that they make decisions that are in alignment with their value system and what they value most. Whether it’s a 30-day, 101-day, 2-year or 5-year goal, coaching can help create clarity and direction in any business.

So what exactly do business coaches do or must possess? Let’s have a look.

#1 A Business Coach Supports the Employee
Usually executives or managers seek guidance or input from a coach when they are not sure how to handle a certain situation. Sometimes help is sought before a difficult situation is dealt with. A business coach can help improve the executive’s abilities and self-esteem.

#2 A Business Coach Helps Managers to Develop Their Solutions
Managers usually know how to act or what they should do. The job of the coach is to draw out answers from managers so they can come up with their own solutions. A coach can offer options, make recommendations and even give opinions, but in the end the manager must have the answer.

#3 A Coach Must Have Great Communication Skills
Listening is a key skill all coaches need to have in order to understand the actual needs of the manager who is asking for their assistance. The coach needs to be fully engaged and take in the information that is being provided without being judgmental. Open ended questions are necessary to draw out answers from the manager. Listening involves observing body language, facial expression, tone of voice, and movements.

#4 A Business Coach is a Teacher or Educator
As an external coach, you teach managers, executives and leaders as you work with them. The goal is to make them self-sufficient. The role of the coach is to provide them with the tools they need to be successful in their role within a business organization.

The role of the coach should be clear. As important as the coach can be to a company, the management and the staff, they are the outsider looking in and it is very important that clear and concise guidelines are established from the very beginning to make sure that no lines are crossed.

By the way… you’re invited to claim your FREE step-by-step “30-Days to Become a Coach” video toolkit. Just go HERE now to get your 30-day coaching blueprint videos.

Jeannie Cotter
Editor/Writer
Writer, Coaches Training Blog community