Integrative business coaching is a combination of coaching, consulting and mentoring, what you might call 360° coaching. My practice draws on many years of experience as a management and organizational consultant, strategic marketing director and executive coach.
There are two essential goals of business coaching: (1) to improve business performance from a financial, technical, operational and organizational perspective; and (2) to enhance the effectiveness and wellbeing of its leader(s).
I primarily coach small and medium–sized enterprises (SMEs) with less than 250 people in the for-profit and nonprofit sectors. In my 40 years of executive experience, I have had the privilege of working with hundreds of companies in dozens of industries. This breadth of experience has yielded a cross-pollination of best practices. I have decades of expertise with:
- Arts & Entertainment
- High Technology
- Medical Devices & Systems
- Pharmaceuticals
- Healthcare Delivery
- Retail (Store & Studio)
- Professional Services
- Human Services, Environmental & Humane NPOs
Integrative Business Coaching Defined
Traditional business coaching is much like management consulting in that it focuses on strategic management, a discipline learned by MBAs throughout the land. Strategic management is a good lens through which to view a business, but by no means the only one. And for some businesses, it’s not the best perspective.
Integrative business coaching never relies on one lens. Instead, it applies as many perspectives as are useful. For instance, some businesses are best viewed through the lens of:
- Culture—how do people speak and act? What’s valued and what isn’t? What’s okay to discuss and what isn’t? What kind of community is it?
- Learning Systems—is the business growing and learning, effectively responding to change? Are staff and teams getting smarter—or running in place?
- Human Performance—are desired inputs being converted into valuable outputs within certain time, cost, quality and resource constraints? Do staff know these parameters for their roles?
- Systems Theory—do psychological and social systems within the business, and in its surrounding environment, harmonize to create a positive loop—or clash to produce a downward spiral?
- Theatre—how good of a show are they putting on? Are on–stage talent and behind–the–scenes departments coordinating to produce a winning production?
These are just a few ways to evaluate an organization, among many. Integrative business coaching excels in finding “hot spots,” opportunities to increase business performance across multiple dimensions.
Integrative Business Coaching Process
Most coaching engagements begin with an organizational assessment to determine current performance, using a balanced scorecard approach. Based on the business’s status, we’ll focus where we can create the most ROI. Several pressure points frequently arise.
Strategic clarity and focus
The first thing we look for are the pillars of evidence–based strategy. There are conspicuous gaps here for about 75% of SMEs. This doesn’t mean you need an 80–page strategic plan. It’s not the length that makes a strategy potent; it’s the thinking it represents. When strategists do their homework, the bottom line reflects it.
Leadership development
SMEs live and die by the quality of their leadership. So we help their leaders develop effective leadership knowledge and skills such as influence, communication, vision and team development. Wellbeing is also a critical concern for leaders. Many have been trying to do so much for so long that they are woefully burnt out. Sometimes the greatest service I can provide is to help a leader take better care of her or himself through Whole–Life Fitness.
Human performance
For every role in a business, a staff member is tasked with converting specific inputs into value–creating outputs. Her or his effectiveness hinges on doing this within certain time, cost, quality and resource constraints. Unfortunately, most people cannot tell you specifically what these parameters are for their job—executives included. When people understand clearly how their success is actually valued and measured, organizational performance climbs.
New business development
It’s no secret that many SME’s want more business or greater fundraising. I spent 30 years in sales and marketing management, directing hundreds of 360° marketing campaigns. If attracting customers, clients or donors is your topmost challenge, I can help you immediately.
Organizational alignment
Organizational alignment is the extent to which strategy, structure, people, processes and technologies are working together to increase financial, technical, human and operational performance and improve effectiveness (ability to achieve intended goals). It’s a never–ending balancing act in which every business has room to grow.
Personnel relations
Sometimes the biggest challenge business leaders have is with hiring, training, retaining and communicating with staff. My background in organization development, specifically in team development and communications, can give you a leg up here.
Team development
For many businesses, success depends less on how its leaders perform as individuals than on how well the teams they lead perform. We help businesses put in place high–performance team basics, which never fail to increase staff engagement and positively impact the bottom line.
Communication effectiveness
Business performance lives and dies on how effectively leadership and teams communicate with one another and with external stakeholders. This is an undervalued aspect of leadership and team performance. Yet, businesses are only as healthy and sustainable as their communication lines are open and people can discuss what matters.
Your Business Will Thrive and So Will You
As a business owner for 25+ years, I know all too well the sweat, blood and tears it takes to run a business. That’s why I am so invested in ensuring your business succeeds. I’m confident your business performance will jump in marketing effectiveness, financial performance, organizational effectiveness, human resources development and operational excellence.
Integrative business coaching is ultimately about generating amazing return on investment. And it does not necessarily need to be a long–term or expensive proposition. My clients typically feel helped in the first coaching session. If you could use some support, I’d be happy to discuss your business challenges in a complimentary 30–minute phone or web conference. You’ll come away seeing your business’s potential in a new light.