I am an Associate with Berkshire Consultancy Ltd. http://www.berkshire.co.uk/ Recently we’ve been working on delivering Talent Coaching for a couple of businesses. The companies involved have identified talented individuals that they wish to develop not just in process skills but also maturity of outlook so the programme is a mix of nuturing and hard challenge. The coaching is done in real time, with real projects so that the performance of these ‘Talents’ can make a real difference to their futures.
At times the role we play moves into education – especially about business processes, techniques and people management to ensure the projects do not fail from lack of knowledge. At other times, we may adopt the role of mentor to pass on experience. However the central approach is to coach these high flyers through the issues they confront – helping them make measured decisions in the face of risk, to reflect and to grow into their responsibilities and capabilities.
I am struck with how similar this is to sports coaching at elite level. Treating top talent as individuals and helping them realise their potential so that you see them begin to fly is the development nub of elite sports coaching. It is often assumed that sport has a relevance to business – in this case there is a direct parallel. High achievers in sport and business have lots in common despite the arena for action being so different. Certainly the coach's crux is the same - when to support or when to challenge your keen and driven charge.
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