I'm often asked about the return on investment for coaching, soft skills & personal development, and wrote this post recently and thought it made a great start to this page on the coaching service I offer. The post is entitled The 7 barriers to optimal performance.
The coaching I offer includes 1:1 or 1:3 coaching solutions. These may last for an hour, a half day or even for a retreat like weekend - for one session or a series - it depends on the coachee and their objectives.
The coaching I offer includes 1:1 or 1:3 coaching solutions. These may last for an hour, a half day or even for a retreat like weekend - for one session or a series - it depends on the coachee and their objectives.
1:1 coaching can take up to 3 different forms:
1. Consultancy
Support
Coaching individuals through the category management / supplier management process. Ideally from start to finish.
Coaching individuals through the category management / supplier management process. Ideally from start to finish.
2. Manager
Directed Coaching
Support to individuals to develop key competencies with objectives and current level of competency agreed with their line manager and communicated to the coach at the start of the process.
Support to individuals to develop key competencies with objectives and current level of competency agreed with their line manager and communicated to the coach at the start of the process.
Competencies may include:
- Technical Procurement Skills for example Category management, Negotiation, Spend analysis, Cost management, Supplier management and so on.
- Business Skills for example Communication & influencing, Organisation and planning, Managing change, Leadership, Managing self and so on.
Support for topics identified by the individual.
As their coach I’m providing a safe place to ask for support to do their job - whether that support is around:
- Confidence, Problem solving, Creativity, Time or project management, Career planning, Change management, Life balance, Stakeholder engagement (within procurement, internally or externally), and so on.
- Helping them become more self-aware or improve their emotional intelligence.
1:3 Coaching
To support competency development, and to be able to
work directly on individual blocks to progress half day clinics for up to 3
individuals are offered.
To date topics have included: Influencing and
stakeholder engagement, Negotiation, Planning and time management, Options
generation, innovation & creativity, Meeting & facilitation skills.
Other topics might include Inspiring change, Problem resolution, Unlocking
supplier potential.
Many of the above subjects have been included in the Purchasing Coach Soft Skills Toolkit. It brings together a number of postcards sent to procurement from your soft skills. More here.
During 1:3 coaching sessions individuals are tasked with some pre-work, and are also invited to bring a real-life challenge they’re facing to work on during the clinics.
Many of the above subjects have been included in the Purchasing Coach Soft Skills Toolkit. It brings together a number of postcards sent to procurement from your soft skills. More here.
During 1:3 coaching sessions individuals are tasked with some pre-work, and are also invited to bring a real-life challenge they’re facing to work on during the clinics.
After a refresher or teach of relevant models
participants are invited in turn to apply the models to their real-life
situation. Through a combination of role play (often involving all attendees),
group discussion, or use of some unconventional tools or techniques they
explore together different ways of resolving the challenges they’re each
facing.
Attendees like the small group size and the informal,
open and confidential way in which problems are discussed. I also find it
encourages them to work in smaller groups more often to solve problems, or to
role play different scenarios.
This type of just in time procurement training is an
area that I believe should be utilised more fully whether supported by trained
coaches and trainers, or undertaken by the individuals' manager.
If you'd be interested in finding out more about coaching options for you or your team do get in touch alison@alisonsmith.eu +44 (0)7770 538159.
