What are the specific benefits of working with a Team Coach?

The key benefit is ensuring the team works to full potential and has the capability to continue its own development. Within that broad aim a team can expect to get the following from working with a Management Futures Team Coach:

• Clarity – everyone understands the teams’ goals, within the context of the whole organisation: every individual understands what  each of their colleagues is trying to achieve: processes for conducting  business are fully understood: decision-making processes are clear: there is a shared sense of values and overall purpose: individual strengths are understood and any weaknesses are supported
• Standards – everyone in the team drives towards improving standards and raising the bar for performance: near enough is not good enough: the core energy of the team is directed towards performance success
• Responsibility - everyone is expected to take full responsibility for their own contribution - no passing the buck or blaming others. Individuals are given stretching and challenging responsibilities linked to the overall team goals
• Recognition – there is a climate where each individual is supported by their leader and by their colleagues: within the context of driving towards top performance there is an emphasis on ‘catching people doing things right’ rather than negative criticism. Skilful, appropriate feedback is seen as a positive thing and an aid to learning
• Improved working climate – engaging a team coach can help teams to develop the kind of climate that supports everyone in putting forth their best effort: relationships become more open and goal-focused: damaging interpersonal dynamics are dealt with positively: the team invests time and energy in making sure that it is working well, and looking at team process becomes part of the team’s routine activity

A further significant benefit is that of enhanced reputation – research by the Forum Corporation has shown that a positive internal team climate is perceptible outside the team. Clients, bosses, reports and customers are all able to perceive the climate within a team. The benefits to individuals within the team are obvious in terms of reputation and profile.

Individuals further benefit from greater job satisfaction because they stand to gain a greater sense of support, a clearer understanding of their colleagues and vice-versa, and an increased sense of positive contribution to the work of the team. There are often numerous further spin-off benefits to individuals too, including greater self-awareness and an improvement in communication skills.  

There is of course an investment cost, both in terms of time and money. However, an investment of say, 7 days in a year of an executive’s time represents about 3% of a typical working year – very little considering the enormous gains to be made.