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In 2005, Spring co-founder Johan Premfors worked on large United Nations projects in Afghanistan involving hundreds of Afghan nationals. Afghanistan, with its complex history of war and conflict, was a place where trust was scarce.
Johan needed to quickly hire and train a large team for several projects. Despite warnings from foreigners not to trust Afghans due to factional loyalties, Johan, a serial entrepreneur trained as a coach, chose to empower his team. He ignored the advice to be cautious and instead invested time, training, and trust in his Afghan team. This coach-like approach led to extraordinary results.
In post-conflict zones like Afghanistan in 2005 accurate communication and skilful leadership was essential for safety and the ability to deliver on promises
The Coaching Revolution
A recent study by the International Coaching Federation (ICF) and Human Capital Institute (HCI) [1] revealed the significant impact of coaching in organizations. These findings might inspire you to transform your company culture!
Leadership on Steroids
Coaching empowers leaders to unlock their team's potential. 73% of respondents agreed that coaching enhances leadership development, providing leaders with tools to inspire and motivate. Johan experienced this firsthand in Afghanistan.
Engagement Through the Roof
Coaching can significantly boost employee engagement. 69% of respondents reported increased engagement due to coaching.
"More than 160 Cleveland Clinic physicians who worked with a coach indicated the coaching experience was a key factor in their decision to stay with the organization. It was estimated that this alone saved the organization $84 million in physician retention. [2]"
Commitment That Sticks
In an era where employee loyalty is rare, coaching offers hope. 66% of respondents noted increased commitment among coached employees, enhancing talent retention.
Johan's Afghan team proved trustworthy, reliable, skillful, and loyal which helped build the company expand far beyond anyone's expectations. Remarkably, during years of operations in dangerous areas, the company didn't have a single injury or serious security incident.
There was only one incident involving a driver caught stealing. Johan received a call that the thief might be harmed by the senior Afghan team. He threatened to close the operation if any harm came to the thief. The driver was kept safe by having him report to the office in Kabul once per week along with promises to not harm him by all staff.
The Triple Threat: DEI, Upskilling, and Well-being
While DEI wasn't well-known in 2005, Johan's actions supported its principles. Today, organizations use coaching to address key topics:
Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion (DEI): 54% of organizations include DEI initiatives in coaching programs, achieving powerful outcomes.
Upskilling: 53% use coaching to upskill their workforce, making training relevant to each employee.
Well-being: 49% focus on employee well-being through coaching, enhancing overall well-being by ensuring employees feel seen and heard.
The Bottom Line
If you're not building a coaching culture, you're missing a crucial opportunity. Coaching is essential for organizations aiming to thrive in today's business landscape.
Many companies have collapsed what good organizational culture is with fancy workspaces and office perks. The latter means nothing without the former.
How to Start
Read: Explore success stories to gain insights into implementing a coaching mindset.
Trust: People are much more capable than you think. Help them by helping them understand themselves. You don’t need to be a trained coach to do this.
Get coaching: Work with a certified coach to see its impact on your life and business.
Speak to friends and colleagues: Gather diverse opinions to form your own conclusions about coaching.
Coaching effectively builds culture and supports individuals. Forward-thinking employees expect managers to adopt a coach-like approach. Old-school management by fear is outdated. Empowering individuals is more effective and healthier. It's time to embrace coaching—your future self and bottom line will thank you!
Citations
[1] Report Summary: Defining New Coaching Cultures 2023 - International Coaching Federation and Human Capital Institute
[2] Improved Retention Through a Coaching Culture: Lessons from Cleveland Clinic