With businesses across the Caribbean facing an ongoing challenge to improve their competitiveness within a demanding global economy, any investment in staff development must yield tangible and sustainable benefits that transform bottom line performance. This is what makes the book 'Challenging Coaching' by John Blakey and Ian Day so interesting, as it critically evaluates current coaching methods and describes a new model based upon actively challenging staff.
Based on the author's extensive experience working at board and senior management levels, they claim that many current coaching approaches are unsuited to improving business. However, their challenging coaching ethos can encourage improved performance and unlock deeper potential in business leaders, managers and across entire teams. 'Challenging Coaching' suggests that traditional coaching principles have over emphasized a non-directive and individualistic agenda that is no longer relevant to the current business environment.
They argue that the needs of the wider organization must take precedence over the requirements of any specific individual. I believe this view was more eloquently summarized in Star Trek II: The Wrath of Khan (1982) when Spock told Captain Kirk that 'the needs of the many outweigh the needs of the few' before dying of radiation exposure. To help Bahamian business 'to boldly go where no one has gone before' Blakey and Day argue that we must challenge staff to use "ZOUD" (not a Klingon weapon) which is the Zone Of Uncomfortable Debate by adopting their unique FACTS coaching model.
This provides a pragmatic approach focusing on:
• Feedback
• Accountability
• Courageous goals
• Tension
• Systems thinking.
Each principle is explained in detail with practical examples of the FACTS coaching model demonstrated using case studies and user-friendly exercises to help the reader successfully implement these techniques. However, don't get complacent, one moment you are reading comfortably about how to improve the effectiveness of feedback, only to be suddenly plunged into the musings of Tao Te Ching.
This can prove to be challenging but such principles support the authors arguments regarding the need to re-develop coaching. The fundamental conclusion of 'Challenging Coaching' is that person-centered therapeutic models don't provide the level of challenge that will stretch leaders or managers to break from old habits, face new challenges and evaluate the long-term impact of decisions across the entire business.
Personally, I think Spock expressed it better; now beam me up Scotty. 'Challenging Coaching' by John Blakey and Ian Day Printed by Nicholas Brealey Publishing and available from www.Amazon.com
• Keith Appleton JP, BA (Hons), N.Dip.M, MInstLM has extensive experience within an academic, managerial and strategic leadership role. He is a member of the UK Institute of Leadership & Management and can be contacted at KeithAppleton@Hotmail.co.uk or follow him at twitter.com/writingrightnow.
Click here to read more at The Nassau Guardian
