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Here’s one we made earlier - we showed Virgin Radio how an understanding of coaching can help to improve management style.Find out how an understanding of coaching can help you to improve your management style. Sometime ago we visited Virgin Radio the national commercial pop and rock music station and delivered our coaching skills training. Recently we revisited one of the stars of the programme to find out how far she has come with her coaching skills development, which of the skills learnt on the programme really stand out and have proved most useful day to day and what attributes she thinks excellent coaches should have. Our coaching programme looks at the importance of coaching and how it can make life easier and improve management style. The programme is interactive and hands on. Participants spend 2 days trying out coaching techniques directly and practically apply the strategies and approaches learnt. Participants then revisit the results from applying the skills at work approximately 6 weeks later so we can examine key learning and help them formulate an action plan to continue growing as coaches in the future.
What have the benefits been to you both personally and professionally as result of attending the you:coach programme?I was a new manager when I took the training course and faced a number of challenges associated with inheriting a team. I found that using the open ended questioning techniques and the listening and probing skills I learnt when in discussions with my team really helped me to understand any team issues. I really don't think I would have been able to tackle some issues head on without the training course, it came at just the right time.
Has an understanding of coaching helped you to develop your career?I think I've developed in my role as a manager, gained confidence and conviction. Before I did the course I really lacked experience of managing a team and therefore it meant I lacked a lot of confidence, in fact it felt quite over whelming at times. This course provided me with both the tools to manage the team and therefore the knock on effect was it gave me the confidence to believe I could do the job to the best of my ability. I think I've definitely improved at managing upwards and in particular forging a strong relationship with the programming director, I've got some really difficult ideas passed him even after he's said no by putting into practice my questioning techniques.
As a manager – how has coaching helped you to get the most out of your team? And, how has coaching helped you to develop your staff?Again for me its about appropriate and open questions, also rather than filling the silence myself with suggestions for what I believe will make it easy for the individual in a difficult situation, I hold back and although the silences may be bigger, when the individual starts talking again, it's amazing how much you and they can learn. I feel I've got to know my team much better and can now work out what makes them tick and motivates them. Also the course really highlighted the importance of succession planning. In discussions with my team members I always have one eye on the future so that I can easily accommodate any team changes that might occur both in the short and the long term. If I hadn't been on the training course this wouldn't necessarily have been something that would have occurred to me in my everyday role and therefore I'm more structured in my approach to my team’s development.
How often do you use your coaching skills?I use my coaching skills in my work life and home life everyday. It's particularly handy when you need to diffuse difficult or tense situations I find it helps get to the route of the problem and I can often find out what's really upsetting someone or the cause of a particular problem.
What attributes do you think a good coach should have?Inspirational and motivational, lead by example, a good listener, always developing the individual and pushing them even if they doubt themselves, pushing them out of their comfort zone but treading that fine line without making them lose sleep, providing regular feedback both positive and constructive, passing on your own learning, asking for their opinions, always questioning yourself and others around you, developing a mutual trust and respect.
Are there any particular tips or practical exercises you learnt on the you:coach programme which particularly stand out for you?Structuring a question correctly and how a closed question at the wrong time can end a conversation. I found my mentor Debbie fantastic and I think it's a great idea to have a mentor. When faced with difficult situations I was able to practice on her first, I really struggled with finding the correct opening questions and she helped me to pitch things just right. Also, I've learnt not to ask a question then dive in and ask another one, give people a chance to speak. I learnt that I was too eager to solve people’s problems and give advice without finding out the full story first. If you could pass on just one tip/ word of advice to someone keen to improve their coaching skills what would it be? Silence is golden....I've learned how powerful that can be and how much you can learn about someone.
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But it doesn’t end there we were keen to catch up with Karen to find out how she has been using the skills learnt since attending our programme 18 months ago. Karen is Head of Promotions at Virgin Radio. Managing a team of 5 sitting within the Sales team a big part of her role is forging strong relationships externally with clients and agencies and also internally with Programming in order to get ideas approved. So how has coaching helped her?
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Nicky Badrick, Training Manager |
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You:unlimited don't give you the hard sell and they really care about their clients