From the beginning Shirlaws has believed that our coaching skills, frameworks and dedication create results, so much so that we apply our principles to the business we are all closest to - our own.
This is most obvious in regards to the ongoing coach development Shirlaws delivers - just as coaching provides ongoing learning and development for our clients, so too our coaches are expected to (and enjoy) the continuous development they are exposed to.
In Australia and New Zealand, the Coach Development Program (CDP) is organised into three categories: Inductions, Conferences, and External.
Inductions
When a new coach joins Shirlaws they will bring a wealth of their own business experience. The purpose of our Induction Program, a series of 2-3 day courses covering Getting Started, Coaching Skills, Productivity, Revenue and Strategy, is to introduce and educate coaches about the intellectual property and frameworks that Shirlaws uses to leverage their experience into client outcomes.
Coaches also join one of our teams, working collectively and led by a coach with 7+ years of business coaching experience. In conjunction with our national office, this allows new coaches to grow their coaching business as fast as they desire and ensures they receive practical experience in our frameworks and the processes we use to source new clients and deliver against their expectations. Finally, Shirlaws Inductions are also a gateway into the Shirlaws culture - cultural matching is an essential part of our recruitment process, and a key reason why coaches love working with our business.
Many of our more experienced coaches are also responsible for running these events, a process which ensures their skills continue to develop and that they can find new ways to be engaged with the business throughout the country.
Conferences
Shirlaws coaches also attend the various conferences that are run each year. In 2010 this will include the Australian Conference (May 25-26) and our internal conference at the end of October. Once every two years Shirlaws Australia hosts a Family Conference for our coaches and their families, and the Shirlaws International Conference takes place.
External
Finally, our most experienced coaches are encouraged to attend and participate in external industry events. In the past this has included presenting at events for groups such as the International Coaching Federation. Shirlaws maintains relationships with several organisations which attempt to represent the coaching profession - our concern is that many attempt to provide qualifications and information which are inconsistent and do not serve the client's best interests.
All Shirlaws coaches are excepted to complete a minimum of 12 days of CDP training each year, which can be spread across these three categories. This is similar to the expectations of bodies in other professional industries, but is not yet an industry standard. If your coach isn't being coached, then how much value can they place on the coaching experience?
