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Observations from coaching discussions also underlined the importance of organisations continuing to develop comprehensive and effective management training.

The event, which saw 46 people – from managing directors to technical managers and administration staff – given free coaching sessions by Unlimited Potential, a coaching and leadership development company, took place in January.

Richard Hawkes, an experienced business and executive coach at Unlimited Potential, commented: “The roadshow was hugely insightful and provided a good snapshot of the changes currently taking place within businesses and organisations.

“Many of the subject areas that individuals wanted to talk about in their coaching session remain broadly similar to those raised during the pre-recession years.  For example, employee engagement and retention were common discussion topics.  However, we noticed two key strategic themes have become more marked in the current environment.

“The affect of relationships and quality of interaction between team members, and the impact this has on team performance was a prevalent issue.  To encourage better performance within the workplace, organisations need to face up squarely to this inherent problem where individuals may be competent and effective, but may not be aware of the impact that their emotions have on other people within the group.

“The second issue focuses on highly experienced people with excellent technical skills being promoted into management positions without a full understanding of the general skills required to be an effective leader.  Organisations need to make sure they’ve provided the proper support, training and development for newly promoted managers to encourage the best performance from them and their team.

“On an individual level, the main issues that cropped up time and again highlighted people’s desire to be more positive and decisive in business and private matters and to plan more about where they wanted to be in the future.

“The coaching roadshow was particularly useful to middle and lower management participants because the coaching sessions encouraged them to think more strategically and be less inward looking.

“This reinforces our message that organisations and businesses should not reserve coaching for the top elite, but should explore the options of giving all employees access to coaching.

“Encouraging openness within an organisation empowers individuals, which helps create a motivated, cohesive and happy workforce, and this leads to a successful, productive and robust business.”

The roadshow was conceived to allow businesses – whatever their size – the chance to offer coaching and mentoring to a wider range of employees. Six companies took part in the project and included Ipsos Mori, Starwood Hotels and Bosch.

The project aimed to bring coaching to people that would not normally have access to this tool, and show them what coaching is, how it feels to be coached and the results that coaching can bring.

The roadshow forms part of the firm’s new strategy for 2010, which focuses on providing coaching solutions for the changing needs of business in the current economic environment as well as introducing a range of new services.

For further information visit www.unlimitedpotential.co.uk, telephone 0845 626 2244 or follow them on Twitter: unltdpotential.  Feedback from individuals following the coaching session can be viewed at http://www.youtube.com/unltdpotential

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