The LSE Coaching Academy

Background

The LSE Coaching Academy is aimed primarily at: serving managers and those who aspire to the role. We also include those that manage resources or projects of a significant impact without necessarily having direct line-management responsibilities.

Under the Coaching Academy, we define coaching as: a series of one to one, goal focused, confidential, development discussions with a coach. The aim of these discussions is to develop an individual's performance in their role and their potential.

Over the last year, 29 members of staff have benefited from access to a personal performance coach with some very positive results. Examples of comments received include:

'Very positive impact. Feeling re-motivated, focused and confident again'

'I found the coaching sessions to be intensely rewarding and valuable. They have helped to transform my perceptions and attitude towards work, colleagues and substantive tasks'

'It gave me time out to think about and articulate some of the challenges facing me so that I could form the best possible strategies for addressing them'

'I have the CIM (Certificate in Management) but coaching built on the theory and allowed me to explore and try things out. I have more confidence overall'.

The agenda for coaching is typically set by the individual, but in agreement/ consultation with their manager. Types of issues and aspirations our coaches have assisted with to date include:

· Managing relationships with staff, peers or own manager

· Unblocking barriers to meeting potential

· Career planning

· Achieving work-life balance

· Understanding the impact of personal style and behaviours

· Dealing with feedback e.g. from appraisals

· Translating management theory into practice

· Developing strategies for implementing and managing change.

Next Steps

As a result of its success, we are further extending the availability of coaching to a second phase by offering access to a personal performance coach for another 30 members of staff.

A primary audience we wish to encourage to explore the option of coaching as a development tool are those management practitioners who have undertaken or are currently undertaking certificated management learning via the School's Introduction to Leadership and Management (ILM - formerly NEBSM) and the Diploma in Management (DIM) certificates.

Coaching provides an opportunity for these individuals to build on their investment in management learning by reflecting on how well they have been able to apply the theory in practice, refreshing their learning, and exploring alternative approaches.

The LSE Coaching Academy package

· Under the LSE Coaching Academy staff are entitled to four x 90 minute sessions with a performance coach*, which we recommend are taken within a 6 month period.
Occasionally the number of sessions may be extended to up to 6 where there is a demonstrable benefit.

· Coaching may be delivered face to face, by telephone or a mixture of the two depending on the coach and coachee's circumstances and requirements.

· Matching of coach to coachee is facilitated by the Staff Development Unit after an initial consultation with the coachee.

· We offer access to a team of coaches with a range of professional, business and academic backgrounds. All have personal experience of management roles, share our core values and are quality assured by us.

· The agenda for coaching is typically set by the individual, but in agreement/ consultation with their manager. Headline themes/goals for coaching are captured within the Coaching Services Agreement document which will also cover the frequency of meetings, confidentiality, monitoring and Evaluation.

If you would like to apply to the Coaching Academy for yourself or on behalf of a member of staff then please contact Jackie Kernaghan in the Staff Development Unit at j.kernaghan@lse.ac.uk 

* Our Performance coaching differs from pure 'skills' coaching in that the coach does not necessarily come form the position of technical expert in specific skills e.g. presentation skills, or from an HE background. They bring coaching expertise and work in partnership with individuals to support the identification and achievement of their development goals. Taking up coaching under the Coaching Academy does not preclude you from also benefiting from skills coaching.

Please click HERE for the LSE Coaching Academy Brochure

Please click HERE for the Coaching Services Agreement

Please click HERE for the LSE Coaching Academy Evaluation Form.

Please click HERE for a Summary Evaluation of Phase 1.

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