Until recently, performance coaching in the workplace was regarded as only for C-suite leaders. As businesses have become more complex and competitive, it’s clear that providing coaching to employees at all levels drives organizational success.
Consider the newly-appointed manager who needs coaching to develop their leadership skills, or a sales representative who could use some help with their closing techniques. Personalized support is invaluable in guiding them toward their full potential.
Performance coaching examples vary as much as the individuals being coached because the best approach is tailored to the employee’s particular needs. However, at its core, coaching always emphasizes skill development, self-discovery, and personal growth.
What Is Employee Coaching?
Simply defined, employee coaching is a process in which a manager or experienced professional supports an employee in improving their performance, skills, and overall effectiveness at work. Coaches guide individuals toward their full potential by helping them identify and develop their strengths, overcome their weaknesses, and set and achieve goals.
Unlike traditional training methods, which are conducted infrequently and often take a top-down approach, coaching is a collaborative and ongoing process tailored to each employee. It’s like having a personal trainer for your career and often involves one-on-one interactions between a coach and an employee or group sessions.
What does an employee coaching program look like? There are many different approaches, but some common elements include:
- Clear goals and expectations: The first step in any coaching relationship is to establish specific, measurable, actionable, and time-based (SMART) goals and expectations. This helps the employee focus their efforts and track their progress. The coach also works with employees to connect their goals with those of the organization to ensure overall alignment.
- Feedback: Objective feedback from coaches, both positive and negative, can help employees identify areas for improvement, keep them motivated, and ensure they stay on track with their goals.
- Guidance and support: Coaches are trained to ask the right questions, acting as guides to help individuals discover and come to their own informed decisions. In conjunction with this, they provide resources and help employees develop strategies for overcoming challenges. For example, performance coaching might help an individual improve their time management and organizational skills or develop a growth mindset at work.
What is the Difference Between Employee Coaching and Mentoring, Counseling, or Business Coaching?
The term “performance coaching” can have different meanings and applications depending on the context and reason for its use, but it has distinct differences from some of the more common parallel self-development approaches.
Mentoring is when an experienced person gives advice and shares their knowledge with a less-experienced employee. This is different from the more participatory process of performance coaching, where the person being coached actively steers their own professional journey.
Counseling, on the other hand, uses therapeutic techniques like supportive therapy, which looks at feelings, emotions, and thoughts, digging into the past to explore and resolve underlying emotional issues. This is different from what employee coaching entails, as it focuses more on setting and achieving future goals.
And while business coaching is perhaps the most similar in terms of strategy, the focus is more on the entire company’s growth rather than the individual. Performance coaches assist clients with their personal performance objectives while tying them directly to the goals of the business.
What Is Peak Performance Coaching?
Another similar performance coaching example is peak performance coaching, which helps people achieve their highest potential in all areas of their lives, taking into account the physical, mental, emotional, and spiritual aspects of a person’s life.
For example, Activate 180’s whole-person approach focuses on life experiences, health and wellness, career and leadership development, relationships, and finances—also known as the five pillars of well-being.
What is the connection between employee coaching and this approach? Well, a person’s personal and professional lives are intertwined, and achieving peak performance requires harmonizing both aspects of an individual’s journey.
Applications of Employee Coaching
What is employee coaching used for? It can be applied across a variety of purposes and situations, including:
- Increasing Productivity and Engagement
Beyond merely honing specific skills, coaching establishes a comprehensive approach that delves into goal-setting, individual strengths, and areas for growth, all while nurturing job satisfaction. This personalized attention not only accelerates skill development but also instills a profound sense of ownership and accountability, fostering motivation and engagement among employees.
A transformative ripple effect also occurs when employees feel that organizations are invested in their development. Heightened engagement translates into a more significant commitment of time and energy towards work tasks. This, in turn, results in a tangible upswing in overall productivity. Engaged employees surpass expectations and actively seek opportunities for innovation and process improvement.
- Preventing and Reducing Burnout at Work
The relentless pace of the contemporary workplace leaves many workers struggling to cope, leading to serious mental and physical health consequences. This challenge is precisely what holistic employee coaching confronts head-on, offering a comprehensive solution to prevent and alleviate workplace stress.
Coaching provides employees with a set of tools and strategies to help them prioritize their time and allocate it efficiently.
In addition, it empowers them to establish clear, respectful boundaries that foster a balance between their professional and personal lives. One notable outcome of coaching interventions is the enhanced ability of employees at all levels to disengage from work more readily when the workday ends. Employees report newfound work-life harmony and happier lives overall.
These examples of performance coaching benefits are especially important in the context of hybrid and virtual work environments, where the lines between professional and personal life often blur.
- Personal and Professional Development
The foundation of high-performance coaching is personalized sessions tailored to each individual’s goals and experience level to create a roadmap to success. And by addressing specific strengths, interests, and aspirations, a person can align their skills development efforts and work roles and responsibilities with their career aspirations.
What is the tangible impact of employee coaching on individuals and organizations? As illuminated by Activate 180’s participant interviews and surveys, the most direct impact accelerated career trajectories of individuals—over half of the employees who are interviewed mention receiving at least one promotion since beginning their coaching journey.
At the organizational level, this impact extends to enhanced performance and growth.
- Creating a More Resilient and Adaptable Workforce
In times of organizational change, such as mergers or restructuring, employee coaching not only aids in adapting to change but actively contributes to a smoother transition. This is because coaches help individuals manage the emotional toll of transitions and navigate the uncertainties that inevitably accompany change.
For example, a coach can provide an employee who is anxious about a merger with coping tools and strategies. The coach can also help them recognize their strengths and skills, which builds their confidence and prepares the employee for the changes that are taking place.
In addition to managing emotions, coaching also provides a non-biased space for employees to share their challenges with managers and company executives. This is vital for building trust and open communication in any workplace.
A company with a positive culture and psychologically-safe work environment weathers change and disruption more effectively.
The Benefits of Performance Coaching
What is it that makes employee coaching so crucial for your company? People are the lifeblood of any organization.
Employee coaching is a vital component of learning and development, complementing traditional training programs. It offers a collaborative partnership between organizations and their employees, fostering a culture of trust and shared goals.
This dynamic approach helps people grow personally and professionally, which in turn helps the organization succeed. According to a study by the International Coach Federation, 80% of employees experience increased self-confidence after coaching, and over 70% report improvements in work performance, relationships, and communication skills. Remarkably, 86% of companies reported recovering their coaching investment.
The return on investment from coaching is clear—when employees are engaged and feel valued, they are more likely to be productive and innovative. Coaching also creates a sense of belonging and purpose for employees which increases job satisfaction and retention.
Elevate Your Team With Activate 180
As the above examples of performance coaching show, coaching is a transformative tool that can help your employees grow personally and professionally, greatly improving your business performance.
Is your team ready to activate to the next level? Contact us today to learn more about what employee coaching can do for you.
