Coaching 'ideal' for performance management and skills development

Coaching is now an "established part" of training and performance management strategies in businesses across the UK, according to the Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development (CIPD).

While coaching and mentoring can be used as effective tools to help employees perform better, the body notes the importance of adapting the method to the particular features and requirements of a given organisation.

Dr John McGurk, the CIPD's learning, training and development adviser, points out the results of his institute's latest learning and development survey, which show almost three-quarters of all organisations (71 per cent) now feature coaching as a major element in their people management approach.

"Coaching is the ideal technique for change management, skills development and leadership in organisations," he remarks.

"It is now an established part of management and people development in organisations throughout the UK."

Communication skills also benefit from coaching according to Business Link, a provider of information, advice and support for enterprises in the UK.

Its representatives have suggested in the past that firms' business strategies can be "re-focused" using the method, while boosting workers' ability to build and maintain relationships is a further likely outcome of the training technique.