Coaching and the recession

Organisations may well be taking a long hard look at their budgets – however this doesn’t mean it’s the end of the road for coaching.  Coaching is experiencing a boom, but not necessarily in the way you think.  Rather than hiring executive coaches to support their leaders and managers on an individual basis, coaches are being brought in as trainers.  Organisations are training up their leaders and managers in coaching skills.

Exciting times

Managers and leaders may be having coaching conversations with their staff, however with limited skills the results are haphazard.  Coaches are being brought in not coach, but to train people in coaching skills. These are exciting times.  The value and worth of coaching is being recognised across the board in organisations. 

It’s time for coaches to shine

In the current economic climate it’s likely that the good coaches will be the ones that stand out. They are going to be the ones that are able to ride the economic storm.  Myles Downey, the best-selling author of believes coaches may have to adapt slightly, but there is still work out there.

What’ s it like for you?

Do you find that you’re being asked to work deliver coaching skills training rather than one to one coaching?   Is it necessary to run an accredited course, or are the skills you have as a coach enough?  I’d be interested in your thoughts and views.

Further articles of interest

• Myles Downey - talks about incompetent coaches
• Myles Downey - says coaches need to ask why they are coaching
• Sir John Whitmore - helping clients to find purpose and meaning
• Cdr Jim Webster - a coaching project in the Met police