Why Hire an External Coach?
Hello there!
For those of you who don't know my journey, I embarked on a coach certification program in June 2017 with the Co-Active Training Institute. You may have heard of them. They are the gold standard of coaching. I've coached for a few years under my coaching practice, and I'd like to share what I've learned with you.
Here is what I have learned that I think you should know based on my experience so far:
Major coaching vendors today that offer "democratized" coaching, coaching as an ad hoc service, or even coaching from an AI robot to support the "in-between" phases of any coaching program have pros and cons.
Certain coaching vendors are out there promoting their coaching services and paying their Coaches very, very little. Especially considering the amount of money that was invested into a coaching certification to begin with, for example, CPCC. Let alone the time and effort to get clients, get feedback, have supervisors evaluate your work and have a minimum of 5 clients per month during your certification year. It's stressful, it can be scary, and it isn't easy.
You are paying for transformation. Not for the hour. The vendor charges you a lot of money and pays the coach for the hour at a fraction of the cost.
You can still have many coaches working for these vendors who care about delivering an exceptional coaching experience. However, they aren't paid well, which can impact the level of coaching your people will receive. They may have a ton of coaches waiting on the bench; however, many of them aren't being utilized or aren't getting work.
You might have the flexibility of support with these vendors and access to many coaches' choices; however, your engagement will suffer. I've seen it happen quite a bit. This all depends on the vendor and what they have put in place already.
These vendors say they are "evaluating" their coaches through real-time feedback from the coachee. However, you should know that transformation happens in between coaching sessions. It's about the changes and actions the coachee is willing to make in between coaching calls that will determine the success of coaching. It's not about, "Wow, I had a great call with my coach today, so they get five stars."
Here are some essential elements to consider when hiring a coach for your organization:
Objective Perspective: Coaches provide an objective viewpoint. They don't have preconceived biases or vested interests in your organization, allowing them to offer impartial feedback and insights.
Retention: Coaching can improve employee satisfaction and engagement, reducing turnover rates. The cost of recruiting and training new employees can be substantial, so retaining valuable talent can contribute to a positive ROI.
Improved Performance: Coaching can increase productivity, better leadership skills, and enhance job performance. These improvements can result in tangible outcomes such as increased sales, higher profits, or more efficient operations.
Expertise: Coaches bring specialized knowledge and skills to the table. They have training and experience in areas such as leadership, communication, conflict resolution, and personal development, which can help you grow and overcome challenges.
Accountability: A coach can hold you accountable for your goals and actions. Knowing that someone is tracking your progress and providing feedback can motivate you to stay committed to your objectives.
Confidentiality: Conversations with coaches are confidential, allowing you to discuss sensitive issues or concerns without fear of workplace repercussions.
Change Management: Whether you're going through a career change, leadership transition, or major life event, an external coach can provide guidance and stability during times of uncertainty.
Quantitative Measures: In some cases, specific quantitative metrics can be tracked, such as increased revenue, reduced costs, or shorter project timelines, directly linking coaching outcomes to financial gains.
If you want to find out how I have worked with previous clients to reach their leadership objectives, please reach out to me at sonia@soniagrossi.com
Sonia Grossi, CPCC, CMP, ACC