The Extraordinary Coach

A Research-based Program Designed to Help Leaders Significantly Improve Their Coaching Skills and Increase Their Personal Leadership Impact

Our programs take advantage of eight key features and insights. They:

Are built on research. We use a research-based, data-driven approach in all of our programs. Each has been built on a foundation of research that uses empirical data from hundreds of thousands of multi-rater (360) feedback surveys.

Utilize personalized assessments. Each of our programs starts with a validated, strengths-based multi-rater (360) assessment. They help the individual or team understand how they are currently perceived and evaluate potential areas of developmental focus.

Set lofty targets. Extraordinary performers drive extraordinary results, where good performers drive average results. The target for each program is not to simply get people “up-to-speed” or to be adequate – it’s to help them become extraordinary.

Emphasize differentiating competencies. Extraordinary performers differentiate themselves from good performers by exhibiting exceptional strength in competency areas critical to their jobs. Our research identifies the few critical competencies by correlating them with those perceived as the top performers.

Focus on strengths. Our research (and experience) shows that outstanding performers are not distinguished by any absence of weaknesses. As a result, we focus program participants on selecting and building a few existing strengths to the extraordinary level – not on selecting and “fixing” their weaknesses as most assessment and development programs do.

Employ powerful cross-training tools. World class distance runners, for example, don’t expect to significantly improve their times simply by running a lot more. Like world class athletes, we utilize a powerful “cross-training” developmental approach that enables participants to build on existent strengths (we call it Non-Linear Development^TM).

Link development to business results. We put measures and drivers of business results into our development tools. Through statistical analysis we extract the behaviors that most powerfully drive those important business outcomes. We can then – with a laser-like focus – provide development for those specific behaviors. This is far more effective than the “shotgun blast” approach to development that is commonly used.

Make learning and development stick. Many organizations have trouble or need help focusing on follow-up – the part of the learning process that ensures learning sticks. Our programs are supported by tools to help participants easily map their development plans, remember to periodically report back how they’re doing, and make their implementation goal progress visible to others.

The Extraordinary Coach Workshop is a two-day coaching development program for anyone who would benefit from being a better coach of others. It takes a strengths-based approach to improving managerial and peer coaching skills. A combined assessment, skills training, and development planning experience, it focuses on what extraordinary coaches do well – building more trusting coaching relationships and facilitating powerful conversations that promote action. The program provides participants with the coaching insights, feedback, and critical skills they need to become extraordinary coaches, and takes them through a structured process with the tools they need to create personal coaching development plans.

During the workshop a certified Zenger | Folkman or client facilitator will help participants:

understand the key objectives of on-the-job coaching and the huge bottom-line impact that extraordinary coaches have
learn about the key attributes of great coaches, what the most effective coaches do, and how they do it
discover why the coaching relationship is so critical to the coaching role and how to build a strong relationship with those they coach
review the four basic elements that should drive each coaching conversation and the best process for holding those conversations
observe several coaching demonstrations that illustrate how to apply the process and skills taught in the workshop, and then practice those skills and receive immediate feedback
prepare to receive a personal 360 coaching feedback report, understand how the report will be structured, review how to interpret the data, and decide how it can immediately be used to improve results
perform a step-by-step analysis of the individual coaching feedback report, using a structured process with individual and group exercises
use on-the-spot peer coaching and Zenger | Folkman’s unique coaching cross-training approach to construct an Individual Coaching Development Plan that is customized to their existing strengths, passions, and the organization’s needs

By the end of the workshop, participants will know exactly how they are currently perceived as coaches and will have a clear understanding of the impact they can make by becoming better. Each will come away with an Individual Development Plan customized to their situation and objectives, as well as a variety of tools they can continue to use in their ongoing development efforts. They’ll learn to no longer be satisfied with average coaching results, and will leave with tools and action plans to truly help them move from good to extraordinary.

“I have been practicing the skills acquired in the Extraordinary Coach workshop with my current project team and have found it to be personally gratifying. It feels so good to coach people to find their own solutions, rather than always giving advice…I see a creativity emerging on this team based on the fact that they are empowered to change their situations. I keep telling them, ‘Don’t let anyone stand in your way. If you have a great idea that benefits this firm, run with it! You need to help change things. Just keep the right people informed.’ …This is one of the best courses I have taken in my whole life. The entire experience is life altering. I feel honored to have been given this opportunity.”

—Technology Manager
Global Financial Services Conglomerate

Audience: The Extraordinary Coach Workshop is designed for anyone in the organization who coaches others as a key part of their job responsibilities. The workshop outcomes will benefit managers and senior leaders, as well as staff personnel who play an internal consulting/coaching role to others.

Materials: Each participant will have participated in the online Extraordinary Coach multi-rater (360) assessment prior to the workshop and will received their own individual feedback report during the workshop. Each will also receive an Extraordinary Coach Participant Manual and Competency Companion Development Guide, an Extraordinary Coach job aid card, and the book, The Power of Feedback, by Dr. Joe Folkman.

Benefits: Organizations typically describe the following benefits using The Extraordinary Coach Workshop and approach:

Data-driven. Empirical data is used to demonstrate and quantify the link between coaching effectiveness and business results.
Provides real world skills.14 critical coaching skills are identified and correlated to bottom-line results. A behavior modeling approach is used to train those skills, and a coaching tool kit with job aids is provided to reinforce the learned skills back on the job.
Offers help to leaders. A research-supported, data-driven, bottom-line approach that appeals to leaders is used. It lets leaders build their own coaching plans customized to their unique needs.
Fosters collaboration. The Extraordinary Coach Workshop demonstrates the importance of building trusting, collaborative coaching relationships and provides the necessary training to do so.
Clarifies Roles. The critical roles and responsibilities of both coach and coachee are defined, and coaches are taught how to get increased involvement.
Supports performance and career coaching. Focusing on building trusting relationships as the basis for holding great coaching conversations supports both performance and career coaching applications.
Provides baseline mapping. Baseline 360 assessments and normative comparisons are supplied to let coaches and teams know where they are and how far they have to go.
Creates a positive experience. Our build-on-your-strengths approach is individually and organizationally a much more positive, motivating experience than the typical “let’s fix your weaknesses” tactic.
Fosters action. Providing an actionable process to follow their 360 assessments gives participants a clear roadmap and the tools they need to become extraordinary coaches.
Sets lofty targets. Our feedback reports provide 90th and 75th percentile norms allowing coaches and the organization compare themselves to the best.