Coaching Knowledge Workers

Personal technology has revolutionized business and working in general over the past twenty years. Personal computers, cell phones, the internet, personal organizers and other high technology devices have made the working world of the mid-1980’s and earlier seem like the Stone Age. These devices have improved efficiency, flexibility and the overall speed of interactions of all types. One area where technology has been a mixed success has been in the areas of leadership, supervision and coaching.

While the advent of new technologies and tools has made the best coaches even better, it has provided obstacles for inexperienced and less-effective coaches. There are several reasons for this.

1. Emails rather than face-to-face coaching
2. Voice mail messages rather than real time conversations
3. Top down, spread sheet driven objectives rather mutually defined “SMART” objectives
4. The advent of telecommuting and other work from home alternatives (which have significant upsides also)

Some tips for executives, managers, supervisors and other coaches operating in this high technology environment:

1. Meet your people individually face-to-face at least quarterly. If you cannot travel to meet them, they should travel to meet you.
2. Never put in an email or a voice mail what you can deliver either face-to-face or over the phone live. Follow it up with an e-mail or voice mail if necessary.
3. Objectives should be more than a series of numbers from top down. They should be arrived at jointly and discussed face-to-face in an objective setting session. If not face to face, they can be handled on phone call or calls.
4. Some people do great working from home away from their supervisor and peers. But other people need the direct interaction with their coach and with their co-workers. This depends on the job function, the individual and amount team versus individual contribution required for success. This must be evaluated on a case-by-case basis.

The combination of technology plus effective personal coaching can create an environment for individual and team success.

George F. Franks, III is the founder and President of Franks Consulting Group, a management consulting and leadership mentoring practice. George has over twenty-five years of experience working with businesses, the U S government and nonprofit organizations plus their leaders. He is a member of the Institute of Management Consultants (USA). He can be contacted at: gfranks@franksconsultinggorup.com
Franks Consulting Group is on the web at:
http://franksconsultinggroup.com