The word “coaching” has been around forever, but it may not be one that you hear around your office on a regular basis.  In fact, it may come with a certain [taboo], but any successful corporation will tell you that it is a word that needs to become more prevalent in the business world.

As the economy begins to recover and market competition grows stronger, organizations must change how they interact with and train employees, and executives can no longer sit back and rely on simple managing techniques to ensure that workers are utilizing their strengths and fixing their weaknesses. Employees are the cornerstone of any business. They interact with customers, promote products or services, and help the business process operate smoothly. Without proper coaching, the foundation is bound to crumble.

It is up to the organization to create an environment that encourages learning, engagement and open communication. The easiest way to make sure this happens? Coaching. There are so many fundamental reasons why organizations need to coach, and it is stunning that most companies do not have a formal program. The benefits that come along with managing, as well as coaching, are staggering:

1      Employee retention

2      Solves real-world challenges

3      Opens the door for internal succession planning due to talent growth

4      Creates positive organizational energy

5      Builds coaches within the leadership circles, which creates “performance improving” employees

6      Provides a competitive edge

7      Increases skills and overall work performance

To effectively introduce a coaching program, companies should start at the top. Executives and managers should be taught the techniques that will help them lead their team in the right direction. When leaders know how to properly coach their team, everyone comes out ahead. For example, managers should know how to differentiate between separate issues. An employee that is not making enough cold calls could either be lazy or could have a fear of placing phone calls. With the right training, managers can successfully coach their employee through either scenario.

In order to achieve the success that every company seeks, formal coaching plans need to be implemented. Employee engagement levels will rise along with work performance. It’s simple – it’s time for organizations to add “coaching” to the dictionary.

Learn more about the importance of coaching and proper coaching methods in our latest book Coaching: Corporate America’s #1 Weapon.