Coaching is usually thought of as a one-on-one process, where an individual has the opportunity to develop in their career by working with an Executive Coach. Although the typical coaching approach has many benefits, in a time when countless employees have paused working together face-to-face it is crucial to implement interactivity and teamwork whenever possible. If you want to develop your employees to the next level, while also reaping the benefits of driving interactivity in these online times, then consider Team Coaching.
What is Team Coaching?
Team Coaching ultimately aims to develop each employees’ skill set while improving collaboration, feedback, and culture. Unlike other group developmental activities, such as conflict training, team coaching mainly focuses on employee skill development rather than team dynamics. However, by working on these skills in a group setting, team coaching also can improve employee interaction and create a culture of teamwork. Assessments are also used to provide valuable insight to participants, as well as expedite the learning and development process. Some of the commonly used assessment devices include 360 degree feedback, team functioning reports (e.g., Lencioni), and behavioral style assessments (e.g., DISC).
How Does Team Coaching Work?
Each team consists of 5-8 employees. The team can include employees who already work closely together or employees who do not typically interact with each other. The team meets once a month for approximately six months, along with a few additional sessions in the beginning. During these sessions, the teams will work together to solve problems through facilitated discussions. This includes sharing challenges, identifying solutions, creating action plans, and completing skill building activities. In between sessions, employees will have the opportunity for one-on-one feedback and working individually with a coach to focus on their own skill building. Below is our model with more information on this process:
Benefits of Team Coaching in a Virtual World
Fostering a shared organizational culture without employees being in the office is one of the many challenges of today’s virtual world. Since team coaching involves identifying high-level organizational challenges and working together to come up with solutions, this helps align the culture around the big picture and encourages a culture of development and teamwork. Although not physically being around coworkers can pose a challenge to employees interacting with each other, this is actually a great opportunity for employees to get to know co-workers they may not have interacted with much in the past. One of the greatest benefits of team coaching is the ability to strategically create teams. Whether that be to rekindle coworkers who used to work closely together, or to foster new relationships with employees who do not typically work on the same projects, it is important to create opportunities for increased interaction. In this virtual world, Team Coaching is an effective way to:
Improve teamwork
Build skills
Increase interactivity
Strengthen relationships
Align employees around key challenges
Define organizational culture
If you’d like to know about Team Coaching, please reach out to Apex Performance Strategies at inquiry@apex-ps.com.