By Jennifer Gervès-Keen

The New Year is a traditional time to check in, create new goals and get an overall sense of how life is going. As individuals, we often take a closer look at both professional and personal intentions. Similarly, organizations can use this time to review current business activities and determine new business strategies for the upcoming year.

Problem is, where do you find that trusted, objective, external voice that will not only help you figure out what’s not working, but also make recommendations to improve your business results?

Whatever has stopped you from hiring a coach in the past, here are five good reasons why coaching can be a key piece of your organizations’ strategy in 2012.

Effectiveness
The right* coach can help your organization and its people to be more effective. Starting with astute observations a coach can identify what’s not working and offer insightful strategies to suggest behaviour changes that can create a ripple effect within a team or the organization as a whole.

Your organization will be sharper and much more focused…and if you have the right coach, you will be held accountable like never before.

Performance
Offering your employees access to an external coach will not only broaden their business horizons and help them be more effective and self-aware, but it creates an open environment to share specific concerns regarding culture, job performance and relationships. By offering this open environment, people feel understood and “heard” resolving issues and boosting performance.

Development
Coaches help identify opportunities for business growth, by not only considering the work itself, but the key influencers and the sustainability of the workforce.  They can help better plan business growth by asking the specific questions regarding business planning and overall vision.

Perfection is not a purpose…but creating a learning organization should be a top priority. If you are the head of an organization where the employees are happy, the leadership team is doing their job well, and the business is a shining example of “how to”, then congratulations. However, success never came from riding on your reputation.

Do you have a plan for moving from your company from good to great, or from great to extraordinary?

Retention
Mobility is more common than ever, turnover is a high cost even in an economic downturn. Yes there are more people looking for work than usual but are they the right ones? Managers need to be giving their staff more ‘face time’ than ever but who has the time?

A coach can take on some of that role for you and if you have a great team, giving them paid access to an external source of support, ideas, and creative fun can be a true gift for the employee and a continuing investment in the success of the business.

Support
People are doing more with less, working harder with more work, and expected to perform miracles with fewer resources. Having access to a coach creates a positive, constructive support in an external, highly confidential relationship  which can often make a major difference in behaviour and attitudes.  In times of stressful periods, working with a coach can offer a strong foundation for employees to ensure the environment remains positive, regardless of the constant changes or elevated stressful conditions.

*By “right” coach I am not referring to titles, certifications, or even education. I am referring to finding a professional with whom you are comfortable with, who either has experience in your industry, or really gets your business, and has a communication style that matches your organization. Coaching is only effective when people are receptive to it; and coaches can only be effective if the individuals they work with are open to learning, changing and committed to what they want to achieve. Make this the year you find your “right” coach.

Jennifer Gervès-Keen, M.A. is a talented facilitation and training specialist and professional coach. Through a variety of delivery methods (meeting facilitation, workshops and coaching), Jennifer is highly successful in resolving workplace issues, and helping organizations, teams and individuals become more effective. For further information, please visit www.jgkonline.com.