By Donna Howes

Between May 19 – 25,2014, more than 20,000+ professionally trained coaches holding 10,000+ International Coach Federation (ICF) credentials in 100+ countries will celebrate International Coaching Week.  Christy Sampson, Director, Community Giving, Canadian Cancer Society, BC and Yukon Division demonstrates how coaching results are being measured by real people in real workplaces.

What did you want to achieve from coaching?
My coaching experience started a number of years ago when there was ongoing tension between our head office leadership and regional teams.

I started working with a coach to create a better team, improve communication and to understand what my role in that was.

What results did you notice first?
It took awhile before I started to internalize and embrace the ‘coach approach’ to my leadership style.  It all came together during a project working with the regional team and instead of coming to the table with ready-made solutions I came with a clear vision.  From there we co-created the whole process and through that experience things really changed.

What was different in you and for others?
I’m a content expert and it’s natural for me to say ‘this is the way to do it’.  Things really changed when I started asking more questions and being more open and curious.  I learned that the team as a group could come up with a better solution than one person and that I didn’t have to show up with all the solutions.

The difference for the team was their level of excitement.  For the first time they felt included in the process and they rose to the challenge.

What else is important to share at this time?
The success of that one project opened my eyes, and in a big way changed my style. Since then I’ve approached things more collaboratively and less directive.

In 2009, ICF conducted a global study of coaching clients and found results could be measured in three key areas: increased productivity, positive people and return on dollar investment. How did you measure the success of coaching in your own experience?
There’s been an increase of trust as measured in the annual performance appraisals we conduct.  And I’ve received thank you notes from staff.  It’s been a game changer in terms of creating positive relationships.  That’s been a huge return to me.  In terms of productivity, that’s a tough one to answer.  The project that we co-created is very much about changing the business model to improve productivity including the creation of new tools that team members were motivated to take on themselves. Prior to this team environment, that wouldn’t have happened. We’re also having direct coaching conversations now around productivity which is new.

What if any unexpected benefits did you notice from coaching?
Going back to what I said earlier, I didn’t expect the build-up of trust and positivity. The outcome of that was unexpected and has been great. 

What would you advise others selecting a coach?
I have recommended to colleagues that they get a coach.  We’re all facing similar struggles and coaching helps create new perspectives.  One of the great things about coaching is that we go through our days and don’t step out of our role to ask those good questions. What coaching does is take you out of your role for an hour to look at things differently.

2014 ICF Coaching Awards Gala Event
You are invited to meet Gregg Thompson, leadership coach to Fortune 100 companies and author of several books including, Unleashed! The Leader as Coach at the 2014 Awards Gala Event on Thursday May 22^nd.  Be there to hear Thompson’s latest research and ground-breaking work with Marshall Goldsmith. “The days of the ‘hero’ leader are numbered,” says Thompson. “Today, leadership is becoming everybody’s business, and we need to dramatically revamp our approach to coaching and training.” Tickets

Creating high performance cultures is Donna Howes’ passion. She is principal of Humanity at Work, and an associate at Tekara Organizational Effectiveness, who partners with organizations to improve employee engagement, leadership effectiveness and overall performance. As a certified executive coach and skilled facilitator, Donna works across organizational lines and interpersonal dynamics to help clients identify new perspectives and insights to resolve their distinctive immunities to change.  Her specialty is leadership growth, team coaching, and organizational culture shift. Donna also has her CHRP designation and is the ICF Membership Director, PCC.