Characteristics of the coaching champion

What does it take to champion a culture of coaching within your organisation? Does it have to be a top-down approach? Can you start anywhere to influence the culture of coaching?

At Open Door we are in a privileged position to be working with people who are influencing and championing coaching in their organisation. Importantly, this includes our wide Alumni and blog readers which you are a part of.

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Characteristics of the champion

What characteristics have you noticed in the people who are championing coaching in your organisation? Or in yourself as the champion.

We feature this topic in our Diploma of Organisational Coaching (10835NAT) and Coaching Culture Certification. In addition, we brainstormed this together of the Coaching Café. Without a doubt we agreed that champions have the following characteristics:

Passion
Vision
Persistence
Resilience
Creativity

In addition, a focus on people and deep desire to bring out the potential in people. Absolutely, a belief that coaching will benefit the organisation and its people. And without a doubt, they are great coaches

Learn from the leaders

Undoubtedly, one such inspirational champion is Leisa Bowness. Leisa is the Manager, Organisational Capability, Safety & Wellbeing at Resources Safety & Health Queensland. For over 10 years in her various roles and at different organisations, Leisa has implemented coaching. Often starting with one business unit or business problem. And importantly, building on the success of each implementation.

Leisa’s key advice

Start somewhere:

- Often we are waiting to be perfect; alternatively feel like we can’t make a start because of various barriers. However, Leisa suggests just to start.

Go slow:

- This is about having a vision and being patient. Furthermore, if you have implemented coaching into a previous organisation, the temptation is to rush forward with your new organisation. Nonetheless, Leisa recommends taking it a little slower.

Walk the talk:

- Obvious to great coaches. Especially important when influencing within our organisations that we are role modelling what good coaching looks like.

Finally, one other great note is: put the business lens over passion. Meaning, you can be passionate, but need to think about the business case and business needs.

The power of the Alumni

Without a doubt, coaching champions make up the Open Door Alumni. They have achieved coaching qualifications and ICF accreditation with an accredited coach training organisation like Open Door. Most importantly, we are all willing to share our knowledge. Therefore, we encourage people to join the Coaching Café. Furthermore, reach out to each other. As a result, together we can share our passion of bringing coaching to our organisations.

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Our programs

Coaching Culture Certification

Advanced Coaching Certification

Certificate IV in Workplace & Business Coaching

Coaching course Certificate IV in Workplace and Business Coaching (10834NAT)

Diploma of Organisational Coaching

Leader as Coach

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