How can you create a positive work environment through coaching?

Coaching is the guidance you provide to the team/individual to achieve their goals by unleashing their full potential on the skills they have. It involves a certain amount of structure; routine and a framework are created to get the results.

To me, coaching is something that helps employees realize their full potential. It’s a proven methodology to enhance employee competencies and drive an efficient, high performing organization.

A positive work environment is primarily about culture; coaching can play a significant role to improve the culture for the team. It requires trust, consistency, adaptability and clear communication. The mindset of "each one, teach one" includes the coach to encourage constant learning and growth. Everyone feels included and supported in achieving the well articulated goals of the team. The team understands that feedback mechanisms exist to strengthen and challenge the team. The coach reassures each person that their talent is necessary to complement the team in delivering on the teams goals. The coach nurtures the talent of each person. This team is on the road to great performance and a work environment they choose to be in!

Creating a positive work environment through coaching involves fostering open communication, empowering individuals, and cultivating a culture of continuous growth and development. By providing personalized support, setting clear goals, and offering constructive feedback, coaches can help individuals unlock their potential, build resilience, and thrive within their roles. Additionally, promoting collaboration, recognizing achievements, and prioritizing employee well-being contribute to a harmonious and productive workplace where individuals feel valued, motivated, and supported in achieving both personal and organizational goals.

coaching is bringing up an open mind - allows us to think beyond what we know. Finding new ways of thinking, acting, and communicating. This is how we work better together and find the best most valuable solutions.

Coaching is like holding up a mirror in the workplace. It's challenging because it reflects back the truth, the good and the areas for improvement. But that's why coaching is vital. It helps individuals see themselves objectively, recognize their strengths and acknowledge areas where they can grow. This self-awareness is a catalyst for personal and professional development, contributing to a positive work environment where employees are empowered to become their best selves.

To me, the value of coaching is holistic. It is usually understood to refer to professional goals/development; it doesn't have to be so. The framework I value & share is the BRAVING inventory (Brene Brown). It's fantastic to initiate a conversation & explore what is relevent. The inventory may be tailored as needed. Coaching becomes an inherent aspect of ongoing development & learning, setting goals, developing resilience, seeking help when feeling vulnerable & crucially taking ownership of a person’s health & wellbeing. Coaching is the gateway to restoring agency; giving permission for the pursuit of passion realistically given specific circumstances. It is a beautiful gift for the giver and the receiver.

Provide guidance, don't be the boss. Encourage learning and give constructive feedback. When your team feels supported and empowered to grow, you've laid the foundation for a positive workplace where motivation and productivity thrive.

-Encourage self-assessment. -Foster a culture of continuous learning, where team members are empowered to identify their own strengths and areas to improve. -Model self-awareness by sharing your own insights and challenges. -Value and nurture self-awareness to empower your team and foster a positive and growth-oriented work environment.

Recently the team leader is the coach; which comes across as confusing. I chose to remove this. My role was to protect my team. Our team developed a code of conduct; we were accountable. I was very proud that ongoing learning & development was part of our code! Expectations were clear, when life happened, the team collaborated on readjusting. Although roles were clear, we relied on complementary skills, so we helped because we were all invested! Direct relationships with me were formed, constructive feedback was normalised. There was safety for curiosity. Curveballs happen; each of us put in the hours/ideas; no one was exempt Every success, no matter how small, was celebrated!! Thank you, BRAVING (Brene Brown), it really helped!

The challenge here is continuous growth and improvement in your coaching abilities. This means consistently seeking opportunities for learning, practicing and refining your coaching techniques. To develop your coaching skills, you could regularly attend coaching workshops, seek advice from experienced coaches and practice active listening and feedback techniques in your team meetings.

Before offering myself as a coach, I had to reframe my mindset. I had to repurpose me towards a different goal. Many of the core aspects of coaching such as active listening, building trust, rapport & empathy, creating dialogue are already part of what I offer & who I am. I had plenty of opportunity to hone & refine these skills. In my case, discipline is vital. There is an overwhelming number of tools, technologies, frameworks & materials available – it leads me merrily down the rabbit hole! To achieve balance & remain true to my style of coaching, its important for me to have a sounding person; to ground me. I practice...practice, practice, practice! This is my playground, its where I learn, its where the magic happens. Lets play!

For me, creating a coaching culture starts at the top. It’s important to align leadership and get executive buy in and support for investing in and moving towards a coaching culture across the organization. Leaders should serve as role models. You can also provide training for managers and leaders and create peer-to-peer coaching opportunities.

Promote a culture where team members coach and support each other. It's like turning your work environment into a coaching community, where everyone contributes to each other's growth and well-being. But remember - while coaching benefits the team collectively, each team member is unique. Consider their individual needs, strengths and growth areas for best results!