How do you know if your company is ready for coaching? Before you hire a coach, or coaching company to work with you, we recommend considering the following questions to find out if you have the right pre-requesites in place to benefit from a coaching approach.

Do we have a problem that we are willing to solve?

For many companies articulating the problem is the first step. It may be that the company is struggling with attrition, or low morale / engagement. For others it may be that the company has reached a plateau commercially. The best time to bring in a coach is when you realise that the current trend is not one that can continue long term, and you recognise that the company will need to change to survive

Are we willing to invest in our team?

Coaching will always involve a commitment to develop the people who work within your organisation and teams. Does the company see its role in developing and nurturing talented individuals and teams, and giving this talent more of a voice within the organisation? If so, a coaching approach can help you to attract and retain a diverse workforce, who feel valued and inspired.

Are we willing to prioritise long-term investment over short-term profit?

At the point that you have realised that your current model is unsustainable, you will need to make a decision about if it is the right time to disrupt the status quo to change and grow stronger. To accept this disruption and short-term impact for the benefit of the long term success of the company is important, as change cannot occur when the company is rigidly set on maintaining the status quo of operations.

Do we have the resources necessary to do this?

This is more than just a question of budget, this is about understanding the time and personal capacity for change investment in setting up a different way of working. For those who understand the capacity for coaching to help transform individuals and organisations to operate in ways that are values led and open to opportunity, this investment is worth it! It is worth considering this factor before bringing in a coaching company to help you get to this space.

Do we think coaching is the right approach?

Do you and your company understand the difference between coaching and consultancy? When we take a coaching approach it’s very much a case of believing that we can help you identify your strongest assets and values and help you to build out on these, to be the best version of your company you can offer. Our coaches have a wealth of business knowledge from other sectors, however will not be bringing a one size fits all approach. Although we may deliver training as part of the package, the change is designed and driven by your organisation, through a reflective and experimental approach.

Are we willing to support the conditions necessary for coaching to be successful?

Coaching success is built upon the human ability to feel enough belonging and acceptance within the team that they are open to learning, discussing, reflecting and trying new things – and sometimes failing at them. This requires a supportive environment, which has been termed ‘psychological safety’. For coaching to be successful and safe, there needs to be commitment that the company can and will support this.