Howard Schwedel MBA, Controller & VP, EA Langenfeld Associates, Chicago, Illinois, USA
I first met Bob when he was facilitating a continuous improvement process with a team of hourly plant workers. I was immediately impressed that Bob was driving home the importance of having a positive bottom-line for any changes the team made. He quickly made each team member aware that they were accountable for results and to the other team members and each member of the team used the tools that Bob taught them to be successful.
I use the methods I learned from Bob as a solid base for mentoring new managers and to promote positive change in my organization. Bob is someone I trust and think very highly of. I recommend him without reservation."
BUSINESS COACHING
Coaching is a critical part of the personal, team and organizational development process. Can you imagine a baseball or a hockey team without a coach? Yet most workers and organizations today lack this essential success ingredient. It's mystifying!
What is the role of the coach?
The answer is: "It depends on the focus." An individual coach helps the performer by: a) Developing a skills profile i.e. what skills do you need to succeed in this job/position etc? b) Measuring the performance of the individual in comparison to the profile c) Setting developmental goals and objectives d) Sometimes providing training, always ensuring that the performer gets the training needed e) Providing opportunities for practice, drill and re-hearsal until mastery is achieved f) Providing constructive performance reviews and reinforcement, including cheerleading.
If the 'coaching role' focuses on a team, a manager, a division or an entire organization the steps are similar but not identical to the above.
Who qualifies to be a coach? Do you have to be a star performer to be a great coach?
Coaching is different from performing. The coach must understand the game and the skills required to succeed. He/she needs to know enough about the game to be able to understand both tactically and strategically how to play the game. The coach does not have to have been a super star. An example of this paradox is Wayne Gretzky vs Don Cherry in the hockey world. No one could question Gretzky's greatness as a performer. His difficulties as a coach arose from the fact that he could not see through the eyes of a B or C quality player. Don Cherry, on the other hand, was a C quality player and could better understand how to evaluate and guide their performance. Cherry became a Stanley Cup winning coach. Gretzky's performance records are too numerous to list here, but Stanley Cup winning coach is not yet among them.
My approach to coaching is highly individualized. I use, interviews, peer reviews, 360 reviews as well as standardized testing and personal profiles to identify motivation and interest levels in key performance areas. Each person is unique and each person requires a coach who is skilled and experienced enough to be able to flex to the developmental needs of the person being coached. My 30+ years of experience with individuals in organizations of all kinds – large & small, for profit & not-for-profit, government & private, local, regional, national & multi-national – will be directed to meeting the real needs of of the performer within the culture in which he/she is expected to perform.
Current Coaching Assignments include:
Verallia (A division of Saint Gobain): I'm working with the Plant Manager and his 8 direct reports. This is a 3-5 year assignment with the goal of creating a more participative, empowered, high performance culture.
Auto Niche: I coach the President in all areas of business growth and development.
Art City: I'm working with the Board of Directors on the process of writing a new vision, values and mission statement (completed in 2011) and then launching this program so that we build a stronger sense of identity and purpose as well as increasing the level of volunteer engagement and the organizations financial stability.
Dunlop Roofing: I coach the President in all areas of business development.
Winning Brands: I am serving as the Chair of the Winning Brands Sales Council. Together with the President and the General Managers of each region, Canada, US and International, we are responsible for all sales and marketing initiatives.
Sigma Promotions: I coach the President in all areas of business growth and development.
AutoNiche: I coach the President in all areas of business growth and development.
Dunlop Roofing: I coach the President in all areas of business development.