SF coaching group update SOL World 2009 conference Texel

Replies to This Discussion

Permalink Reply by Doris Regele on May 20, 2009 at 10:04

Thank you, Janine, for the summary and starting the discussion! Here's my first question to the group: I consult a university that wants to open a coaching pool for its employees. Therefore I would be grateful for experiences of people who have set up such a pool or are working in such a pool: what is to consider? What is useful (for the organisation and/or the involved coaches), etc. Thank you for your support! Greetings, Doris

Permalink Reply by Janine Waldman on May 20, 2009 at 10:29

Hi Doris
A question....Are you using external coaches, internal coaches or a mix of both for the pool?
Janine

Permalink Reply by Doris Regele on May 20, 2009 at 10:50

A mix of both (I think there'll be more external ones since not so many employees are trained coaches). oh, one more (maybe useful) information: There are in total around 1000 employees (ca. 280 of those working in administration)

Permalink Reply by Stephanie von Bidder on May 20, 2009 at 13:00

Hallo Doris
in Basel we have a coaching pool for all the teachers of our town. It is run by the centre for teachers education and what they did is a good thing, that the teachers appreciate very much. They chose a neutral office in a neutral officebuilding in town. Like that privacy for the coachees is a bit more guaranteed, they have the chance to 'sneek' in there unseen, which helps them to get in touch with a coach more quickly perhaps?

Permalink Reply by Janine Waldman on May 20, 2009 at 17:25

Hi Doris
I've set up coaching pools and also been part of them. In addition to Stephanie's good point above, some of the things you might want to consider for this include:
Selecting of coaches - what are your criteria for this and what is your recruitment process - interviews/live-coaching etc.
Supervision of coaches - what supervision do you require the coaches to have and what will you provide. Most of the pools I've worked with provide some sort of supervision and ongoing development to their coaches.
Paperwork - what contracts do you want in place between coach and client, how will this be managed e.g centrally or by the coach.
How will you identify the coachees? for example, is it open to all through an application process, is the coaching for high flyers, certain grades of management etc. Or perhaps people will be put forward for coaching by their managers.
Matching- how are people matched to their coach - some places have a data base and people can choose their coach, others tell people who their coach is and some give the client a couple of coaches to choose from based on their requirements.

Happy to talk about this furhter if it would be useful.
All the best
Janine

Permalink Reply by Doris Regele on May 20, 2009 at 17:43

Stephanie and Janine, thank you so much for your answers - that helps a lot to line out what to think about. As soon as I have my checklist ready I'd be happy to share it. Whoever is interested, let me know. Doris

Permalink Reply by Björn Johansson on May 20, 2009 at 10:50

Hi all, good initiative! unfortunately I was busy in another group, but think you catched an important topic. I am happy to be involved.

warmly
Björn

Permalink Reply by Pat Walker on May 20, 2009 at 11:11

Hi Janine ... your post is a breath of fresh air!

I am currently facilitating action learning sets for a group of health professionals at an NHS Trust (which is shortly due to come to an end) and would be very interested in learning more about how other people have contracted new business for group coaching in organisations.

I look forward to being a part of this group and sharing and learning with others.

Best wishes, Pat.

Permalink Reply by Stephanie von Bidder on May 20, 2009 at 13:01

thanks Janine for posting and summarizing!

Permalink Reply by Baerbel Hess on May 20, 2009 at 17:05

Dear Janine,
thanks für summarizing and starting the discussion here!
Bärbel