One-to-one coaching achieves fundamental behavioural change
Business psychologist Richard Hunter gets to the root of the problem...
Summary
The popularity of coaching as a means to improve performance in the workplace is increasing. However, the term ‘coaching’ can cover a variety of different approaches and, as a consequence, deliver different levels of results.
Often, coaching is just used to motivate and inspire staff, which can provide immediate, but sometimes short-term, results. Richard Hunter, a qualified psychologist and psychotherapist, and founder of business psychology consultancy Criterion Partnership, takes a more searching and profound approach to achieve longer lasting improvements.
“Some performance limitations stem from personality characteristics acquired during an earlier phase of the person’s life.” explained Richard. “Clients of this kind often express a wish to understand where their limitations arose from and what caused them to be the way they are.”
While most coaching only provides clients with ways of managing or skimming over the real issues, Richard prefers to address the problem at its root cause. Once clients develop an awareness of the origins of their self-limiting beliefs, they are ready to make fundamental changes in their behaviour. As a result, they are more able to reach and sustain their potential, both in the workplace and in their private lives.
This was the case recently for Chris, an executive with a public body. Keen to be more effective in his role and to remove any blocks to his career development, Chris undertook a series of one-to-one sessions with Richard.
Challenge
Through personal reviews and appraisals, Chris became aware that his colleagues sometimes found him challenging, and wanted to become more approachable. Although Chris had achieved considerable success in his career, he was aware that this perception was occasionally placing a barrier between him and others.
In the past, Chris had undertaken traditional management training courses which had provided some benefits. However, they did not succeed in addressing the underlying issues and his inter-personal skills were still his relative area of weakness.
Solution
Criterion Partnership has recently worked with this organisation on a number of different management development and assessment projects. Through this relationship, senior HR professionals became aware of Richard Hunter’s coaching programme. This more fundamental approach was then offered to Chris, which he accepted.
One-to-one coaching takes an in-depth look at a person’s life with the specific objective of addressing how you are able to react in a business context. Richard’s approach deals with ways in which the past impacts on the present and ways in which changes in the present can be managed to shape the future. Uncovering the causes of present behavioural tendencies means exploring personal history as well as current business events. For these reasons it is important that the client feels completely at ease with their coach.
Prior to starting the sessions, Richard Hunter arranged an informal meeting with Chris. This gave both parties the opportunity to meet and to discuss the approach, in order to determine whether this form of coaching would be of benefit. It also gave Chris a chance to see if he felt comfortable with Richard.
Confidentiality and trust are key factors in ensuring the most can be gained from the sessions. As such, Richard made it clear that nothing raised during the sessions would be fed back to Chris’ managers. A general review of progress can be provided to the client’s company, but no details of the discussion are disclosed.
Commenting on Richard’s style, Chris said: “Richard was very calm and measured. He was also very perceptive. He was able to put his finger on key points that would prove to be very important in subsequent discussions.”
As well as discussions, Richard asked Chris to carry out some exercises. This included Chris imagining he was writing a book about his life.
“I had to write the chapter headings of my life,” explained Chris. “This led to quite a lot of discussion centring on my formative experiences. We also talked about current events, both personal and at work. It was a very fluid process.
“It is like counselling in a business context. At times the sessions unlocked emotions in a way that I wasn’t expecting but Richard was extremely reassuring.”
Commenting on the one-to-one process, Richard said: “The aim is for the client to look at past experiences and to understand how they influence the present.
“Often, the answers to the big questions such as, ‘how did I become this type of person?’ are to do with the first five to seven years of someone’s life. So in the early sessions it is mostly about me listening.
“Everything then begins to suddenly fall into place for the client. It’s not unusual for someone in their 40s to say they are realising these things for the first time.
“In later sessions, I will look at the current issues the client is dealing with at work. These may involve role-playing. I will create a simple scenario that will encourage the client to behave differently to the way they would normally. This touches on conventional training but feels different because there is a deep understanding between myself and the client.”
Outcome
When asked if the coaching was what he expected, Chris said: “In terms of process, yes, but in terms of outcome, no. I actually gained more from it than I thought I would.
“It was an incredibly useful exercise which led to a fairly fundamental change.
I now have a much better understanding of myself, my experiences and why I am like I am, which has helped me be more effective in my role.
“It gives you a feeling of confidence, calmness and acceptance of yourself, which translates into all your interactions with people.”
Since working with Richard, Chris has undertaken a new role. Now a Director, Chris has had to meet a lot of new people, something he used to find challenging.
“I didn’t find it terribly easy to forge new relationships, but now I feel a lot more at ease which, in turn, has helped people feel more comfortable with me. I believe the benefits will be long lasting. I wouldn’t want to take it for granted though, so I will keep revisiting the skills that I developed with Richard. ”
Chris concluded: “I have absolutely no doubt that many people could benefit from this type of coaching which is why I want to share my experience.”
