“Hello, babies. Welcome to Earth. It’s hot in the summer and cold in the winter. It’s round and wet and crowded. At the outside, babies, you’ve got about a hundred years here. There’s only one rule that I know of, babies — ‘God damn it, you’ve got to be kind.’ ”
Kurt Vonnegut R.I.P.
Chris Ritke of 49Sparks has just posted an interview with me we recorded last week. We talked about Wishful Thinking, coaching, people and creativity - including the use of online tools to facilitate co-creation.
Chris is developing some very interesting tools for project collaboration at 49Sparks - you can sign up for free to check them out - and has a great series of audio and video podcasts. I originally noticed Chris’s site when he posted an interview with Neil Tortorella of Business of Design Online (where I’m a guest author).
As well as project tools 49Sparks offers social networking for creative professionals - Chris explains it better than I can, have a look at this video to see what it’s all about.
Having looked at Different Types of Coaching, in this post and the next in the series I will outline the two basic roles for coaches in business: the external coach (or coaching consultant); and the internal coach (usually a line manager).
An external coach is a consultant brought into the organisation to work with individuals and/or teams, usually in sessions lasting 1-2 hours. Ideally the coaching conversation is a face-to-face meeting, at least for the first few sessions, although the phone and now webcam are increasingly used, as they allow for greater flexibility in scheduling appointments. Coaching sessions are often interspersed with e-mail reports on agreed action items.
Below are some of the advantages of using an external coach. It is important to remember that these advantages do not make external coaches intrinsically ‘better’ than internal (manager) coaches - just different. Ideally the two roles should complement each other.
In many respects, the position of an external coach is a privileged one, since she is free from many of the restrictions that apply to managers - so there is a responsibility to use these advantages wisely, for the benefit of the individuals being coached and also the organisation as a whole.
A fresh perspective
An external coach brings a fresh perspective on people and events in the organisation. This means she can notice patterns and make connections that are not apparent to those on the inside. So she can act as a valuable ’sounding board’ for people’s thinking - by asking questions, listening and giving feedback from her perspective as an outsider.
A strong focus on the client’s needs
Because the external coach does not have the direct responsibilities of a manager, it is relatively easy to devote her entire attention to the client’s needs during the session. This can lead to an intensive, high-energy form of coaching that can produce significant results in a short time. In longer term coaching, it can provide a very strong foundation for an individual’s development.
A confidential forum for discussion
Because the coaching session is confidential between coach and coachee, people sometimes feel more comfortable discussing sensitive information or personal concerns with an external coach than with their line manager. This can lead to resolution of ‘unspoken’ problems that have been interfering with critical business processes.
Highly developed coaching skills
External coaches have typically received a more extensive coaching training than managers, and have spent more time coaching people. This means the organisation benefits from highly developed coaching skills and a wealth of coaching experience.
Specialist expertise
In addition to their core coaching skills, many external coaches have specialist expertise that makes them particularly suited to certain coaching assignments. Specialisms can include leadership, sales, negotiation, mediation, presentation skills, creativity, psychology and emotional intelligence.
I'm a poet and a business coach specialising in the Creative Industries and professional artists and creatives. This blog is about creativity, coaching and business, how they fit together and whether the seams show.
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If creativity is your passion and/or profession feel free to download and share my popular e-book Time Management for Creative People. You may also like to explore the Creativity and Emotional Intelligence sections of the Best of Wishful Thinking.
To find out how coaching can benefit your creativity and career, have a look at my page on Coaching for Artists and Creatives.
If you're a business owner, creative director or the manager of a creative team then my free e-book Creative Management for Creative Teams is for you. In the Best of Wishful Thinking have a look at the articles about Coaching and Managing Creativity and my interview podcasts with managers, directors and consultants in the Creative Industries.
To find out how coaching can help your company achieve its creative and commercial goals, visit my Creative Coaching site or contact me in confidence.
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