Acorn Launch New Coaching Model

Acorn Launch New Coaching Model

Acorn have recently launched a new and unique Team Coaching Model. We asked a few questions of Steve Gee (pictured above), Acorn's head of coaching, about how the model is being applied in businesses and its advantages over more traditional team development activities.

Q: How would you describe the model?

'The Acorn Team Coaching Model is a unique distillation of the best of accepted theory behind high performing business teams blended with Acorn's years of experience in developing teams at all levels in business. It is applied with a coaching rather than a traditional teambuilding mindset.'

Q:Why is it more effective than traditional team building activities?

'Well, firstly it's very cost effective! Coaching can be delivered without resort to costly, time consuming activities and high levels of staffing. Working with the model, on a coaching basis, encourages direct engagement with the real issues and challenges facing a team. Most importantly, it supports the team's leadership in developing their desired vision and performance and fosters the team's capability to grow and manage itself more effectively. Ownership for development stays firmly with the team. This sort of activity drives the team to develop its own solutions so there is always buy-in and ideas are always carried out.'

Q: So how does it improve business performance?

'You will tend to see accelerated development in newly formed teams and a swifter return to high level performance after changes for example in leadership, personnel or business objectives. And because input and support is provided over a realistic timeframe, often commencing immediately over the phone, uncertainty and rapidly developing situations can be dealt with instantly. However, coaching is not an 'over and done with' event. In the long term, optimum performance needs to be sustained at a reasonable cost. Taking a coaching approach makes it easy to tailor further contact and input to keep a team on track.'

Q: How would you sum up Acorn's Team Coaching?

'Easy. A simple, practical and sustainable way of improving team performance.'

Click here for a study of 'Acorn Team Coaching' in action.

© Acorn Coaching & Development Ltd.