Types of coaching

The principles of coaching can be applied in a variety of ways, especially taking advantage of modern communication systems. These have the advantage of removing the need for physical proximity and allowing shorter sessions to be viable. At the other extreme, work shadowing involves longer sessions of joint working.s

Different types of coaching

Coaching can be used for various purposes.

• Performance coaching. Coaching activities here are aimed at enhancing an individual’s performance in their current role at work, to increase their effectiveness and productivity at work. Generally, performance coaching derives its theoretical underpinnings and models from business and sports psychology as well as general psychological theory.
• Skills coaching. This form of coaching focuses on the core skills an employee needs to perform in their role. Skills coaching provides a flexible, adaptive, ‘just-in-time’ approach to skills development. Coaching programmes are tailored specifically to the individual and are generally focused on achieving a number of skill development objectives that are linked to the needs of the organisation.
• Career Coaching. Coaching activities focus on the individual’s career concerns, with the coach eliciting and using feedback on the individual’s capabilities as part of a discussion of career options. The process should lead to increased clarity, personal change and forward action.
• Personal or life coaching. This form of coaching provides support to individuals wishing to make some form of significant changes happen within their lives. Coaches help individuals to explore what they want in life and how they might achieve their aspirations and fulfil their needs. Personal/life coaching generally takes the individual’s agenda as its start point.
• Business coaching. Business coaching is always conducted within the constraints placed on the individual or group by the organisational context.
• Executive coaching: One to one performance coaching is increasingly being recognised as the way for organisations and individuals to improve performance. By improving the performance of the most influential people within the organisation, the theory goes that business results should improve. Executive coaching is often delivered by coaches operating from outside the organisation whose services are requested for an agreed duration or number of coaching sessions.
• Team facilitation: Coaching in its role as facilitator is particularly valuable during the budget and strategy planning season. And coaching a team before a presentation can dramatically improve performance – as well as self confidence.
• Work shadowing: As well as being a means of identifying an individual's behaviour and performance, work shadowing is an excellent method of getting immediate feedback on behaviour, with a discussion of alternative ways of handling future such situations.

Types of delivery

• Corporate coaching centres: For a really focused coaching session it pays to get away from the office. Our regional coaching centres provide a smart and convenient environment for concentrated progress.
• Distance coaching: If you are a distance from your coach or wish to work in your own time, then we can support you by telephone, e-mail or instant messaging, with access to our wide range of downloadable Internet resources. These can be one-on-one or within a group conference.
• On-line coaching resources: Learn how to set a well formed outcome or try the Wheel of Life or the Wheel of Work or check your competence in personal effectiveness, managing communications, managing people, your effectiveness as a director, or review the corporate culture of your organisation. Both the process and the computer-generated feedback will contribute to your self awareness.

What to do next

With our MBA level experience and training in the psychology of change, Brefi Group coaches possess the unique combination of maturity, professional skills and human qualities required to work with top decision-makers and the leaders of the future, whether they be in commercial or public organisations or running a small company. Such key individuals have the maximum leverage for change – they provide the leadership and role models for the rest of the organisation. They are under the greatest pressure, and are more likely to suffer from stress and an out of balance work/home life.

We can also train managers as coaches and set up in-house coaching and mentoring schemes.

There are lots of detailed pages on this site, so if you have a specific interest, please use the search box at the top of the page.

To find out more about how Brefi Group could help you, use our contact page, or contact us by telephone on +44 (0) 121 288 3417.