The new Institute of Leadership and Management Coaching and Mentoring Qualifications have been put onto the ILM site. I was looking at the differences between the Awards and Certificates and noticed that at Certificate level the supervised coaching hours has increased. This is a definate forward step as people coaching in the workplace need at least 12 hours to practice their skills. In the courses we have been running we have made sure that people are buddy coaching and “hot seat coaching” in the workshops. Hot seat coaching is a wonderful way to learn coaching skills even if it can be a bit daunting at first. It’s a bit like speaking in public for the first time with no idea of the topic!

I have recently completed a coaching supervision diploma with the CSA and another element of the new ILM qualifications is how people are supervised during the training. This is also a great step forward as coaches need support in the first years as they hone their skills. We all need to reflect on our sessions and discover what it was that prompted a certain intervention at a certain time. It is useful to consider the reaction we may have “wanted” our coachee to take and how much we actually influence their decision. Coaching at it’s purest is when the coach can set aside his or her own ideas and suggestions and allow the coachee to develop their own. This is particularly difficult when you are a line manager coaching your direct reports. It is a matter of taking the line manager’s “hat” off, setting aside knowledge you already have and focusing on the present moment without judgement. Easy to say but it needs support and practice to do. Some people have told me they feel it is better not to coach your direct reports, I disagree. If you are a good manager you will be able to use coaching skills whatever the occasion.

For example if you are faced with a member of your staff who is obviously struggling with a problem your normal reaction may be to “fix” the problem for them. If you asked them what they felt would solve the problem you may be surprised at what they come up with. If they ask again you would probably suggest something but if you take the time to listen to their own solutions may just unlock untapped potential. Not only that, you would free up your own time as people would begin to realise you were not always giving them solutions and they start finding their own.

When I frist started coaching I began to ask my staff more about what they thought and I was really amazed at the talent I had overlooked. As a manager people just need your confidence in their ability and then they will grow in self worth. They will begin to believe that their ideas really matter and that they are listened to.

Jackie Arnold

Today has been a good day. I have been commissioned to write a coaching skills book for senior staff and leaders. The book will be put forward to be validated by the ILM as part of their resources for the qualifications in coaching and mentoring at levels 5 & 7.

Here’s the blurb:

“This exciting new book is for coaches working in leadership and management positions. It aims to provide the knowledge, skills and confidence to perform effectively as coaches as part of your normal work role. In addition the book aims to support you when moving into a development role within your organisations or to freelance as a management coach. This book serves as a guide for both coaches and executives to enable good decisions and develop skills to inspire and motivate others”

I would like to contact anyone who has run the ILM courses in Management Coaching & mentoring to compare notes. It would be useful to see how and where coaching has been implemented in the workplace and if organisations have used internal or external coaches, or both. It would also be interesting to gain knowledge of the impact coaching has had on the workplace and if there are any hard facts and statistics available to back up the bottom line results of coaching.

I have helped to deliver these courses over the past four years both in the private and public sector. The diverse groups have been both challenging and motivating - from the Fire Service, The Education Sector and NHS to IT companies, manufactoring and law firms. This book will be a great challenge and keep me very busy for the next eight months or so. I am excited about the project and hope that you will get in touch with your experiences and case studies. Any contributions will be acknowledged.

Next week on 15th Feb in Brighton we are delivering an action packed workshop “One Day Introduction to Coaching” Do come along if you are able as this is the lowest price it will ever be at £80 + one free place to a second booking. We aim to make it fun and you will go away with real coaching skills to try out in the workplace.

Jackie Arnold

Well it’s that time again. This is where we all make those great resolutions and then we make excuses when they are not fulfilled? Or perhaps you don’t - perhaps you have decided to really note down the goals so that they are easily achievable. Small chunks that are easy to tick off.

I am currently writing my second book “Speaking on Special Occasions” I need to write 60.000 words by the end of Feb. Will I do it - to be honest I am not sure but I am hopeful. I suppose the reason for this is that I have visualised myself with my new book in my hand. The shiney new red cover and the people who have asked me to do this being happy that they have it to refer to. Visualisation is a great way to make things happen. Today I have broken the 30.000 barrier - YES! But that still means another 30.000 in six weeks (One I am away skiing)

So what have I done? I have taken a green marker pen and written down the weekly targets - the number of words I need to complete each week. This makes the task easier as it is broken down into sizable chunks. I have also told myself that I will buy myself a small present if I reach my target. If I don’t I will pay £50 to charity. This way everyone wins!

Oh yes and I have visualised myself giving a signing at the spring conferences and at Borders surrounded by my newly published books on the table in front of me. It’s a great incentive as I can’t let myself down now - it’s in my BLOG!

Why not try the same with your goals? You might just make it.

Jackie Arnold

Phase 1
See end of business plan
Phase 2

What is your business and what benefits do your customers /clients receive?
(at least 10) Phase 3
What is your target market and who are your clients/customers? Be specific
Phase 4

How are you going to reach the buyers of your products/services?
(Various methods & plans)
Phase 5
What is your projection of :

Income
Expenditure
ProfitOn a monthly basis for this year?

Phase 6
What are the best projected possible results you could expect for this year?

What are the minimum acceptable results?
Phase 7
What systems have you put in place to ensure these results?
Phase 8

Where are you now in your business?
Where do you really want to be?
What do you want to have achieved with your business in five years?
Phase 1

Now make a summary of all of the above on one page to make it visual at all times.

How to become the boss everyone loves to praise, rather than the boss everyone loves to hate! 1. Acknowledge your staff
When a member of staff does a job well, make sure you notice it, and acknowledge her/him for it.
2. Never, ever, humiliate anyone on your staff team

If you are annoyed with someone on your team, or they have done something wrong, make sure you keep your cool, especially in public. If you humiliate someone, he or she will hold a grudge against you, and their work will suffer too.
3. Create a culture where mistakes are OK
If you don’t make mistakes, chances are you are not stretching yourself. If your staff are allowed to feel that mistakes are part of reaching for new highs, rather than something to feel bad about, or shamed for, then they will take more risks on your behalf.
4. Remember personal details

Take time to get to know your staff, who they are, who is important in their lives, etc. Be interested in them as people, not just as workers.
5. Don’t hide behind your position
Be human and friendly with your staff - that way you will all be able to support and encourage each other when things are tough.
6. Be approachable

Allow your staff to feel that they can come and talk to you about sensitive issues. Show that you will respect them, and not hold what they share against them.
7. Admit your mistakes
If you get it wrong, say so. Managers don’t have to be infallible! Your staff will respect you more if you are able to admit your mistakes, and then set about sorting out a solution.
8. Listen in such a way that your employees will talk to you

Often people feel afraid of, or intimidated by, management. Make sure you show people that you are willing to listen to what they have to say, that they are important and worthy of your time.
9. Be clear in your requests
It is your responsibility to ensure that people understand your requests - so communicate clearly, and ask if people have understood what you are asking for.
10. Treat everyone respectfully and courteously at all times

Particularly when there is a problem! Everyone who works for you is a valuable human being who deserves respect. A manager is only as good as how she or he treats the people on her or his team.

Whatever the size of your company, there are some common needs that all business people have. To be effective means harnessing a range of skills, some natural and some acquired, and knowing how, when and where to apply them for the best results. A coach is there to give you support, unbiased and objective feedback, resources and tools. Plus, they are a listening partner for your creative and developmental ideas from bright spark through to finished project. Having a coach will: 1. Help you to focus
We all have lots of ideas all the time - a coach will help you to put your energy where it will serve you best to accomplish your goals.
2. Improve the existing culture of the company

Retention of staff is a critical issue and coaching is used to support employee growth and effectiveness. Employees who are involved, valued and supported have a real commitment to the company and less motivation – or need - to move.
3. Help you leverage your time
The conflicting demands of multiple projects and responsibilities can get overwhelming. Coaches have a number of specific tools and programmes to help you prioritise and deal with time management issues
4. Provide accountability

Knowing that you’ve made a commitment to yourself and told someone else makes you more likely to stay on task. It’s much easier to let yourself off the hook, but somehow knowing that you said you would do something to someone else makes it easier to follow through - AND you have that support at the end.
5. Become more attractive
Character, communication skills and listening ability are vital assets in today’s business world. To develop leadership skills that attract rather than control, is a key factor in successful leaders and your coach can help you display and develop more of them
6. Be happier

There is nothing like getting rid of things that are draining you, like taking control of your finances, your house, your life, to put a smile on your face.
7. Create a support network
Working with a coach gives you incredible support. Knowing that you’ve got someone behind you 100% goes a long way in helping you to take healthy risks and move forward.
8. Find contacts, ideas, opportunities

Most coaches work within powerful networks that include many personal development specialists, high flyers and successful achievers. If your coach can’t answer your question, they have other associates to draw on, plus an entire worldwide coaching network to get you the answer you need.
9. Create Boundaries
Successful relationships, business and personal, depend on having secure boundaries that you and other recognise. A coach can help you to see what you say ‘yes’ to because you want to, and where you say yes for less healthy reasons.

10. Find Balance
People need to find a balance of mind, body and spirit. A coach is there to help you find that in your life. We cannot be our best selves if we are stressed, overwhelmed and unhappy. A coach will help you to take charge and create your best life