responsibility but also to a different culture . He sought out coaching to help him understand the different ways of working and the different agendas in his new culture . Calling the experience “ incredible ,” Ribeiro says , “ Today I feel that I am contributing to the global agenda , even though I come from a different background and culture .” |
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22 Coaching World |
The program , which has 220 participants this year , includes 12 individual coaching sessions , six half-day group coaching sessions and senior-leader sponsorship . Machon explains , “ It takes them through a process of looking at confidence , presence , power , impact and challenge , and then pulls it all together as an authentic expression .”
Approximately 46 percent of 2013 AD participants have been promoted by at least one level , compared to 26 percent of women and 27 percent of men at the same grades across the organization . Participants were also more likely to stay at the organization ( 76 percent ) than 69 percent of women and 71 percent of men who did not attend the program . Direct reports indicated that AD participants improved in manager-effectiveness over time , improving more than three times faster ( 7.7 percent ) than a control group ( 2.1 percent ). “ Coaching has transformed my life . It helped me get clear about how I could fulfill my potential . … I came to coaching late in my career — I wish I ’ d found it earlier ,” said one leader , a commercial senior vice president .
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Coaching Across the World
Rolling coaching out to different cultures and regions can be difficult , but GSK has accepted that challenge and is working to give everyone at the organization the opportunity to experience working with a coach . “ We ’ re helping people to understand the equal power of coaching in terms of it not being a power dynamic , but of it being an equal relationship and why this is valuable in achieving business goals ,” says Bonneywell . “ When you take the time and the effort to do that , then it can really take off , but it does take time to really help people understand the value and the importance of coaching and how it differs and how it ’ s much more beneficial in the long term of sustainable growth than mentoring or consulting .”
Individuals at GSK may also face cultural challenges when transitioning to different roles , and coaching is there to support them . Ribeiro recalls his own experience after being promoted to his current role , which moved him from Brazil to the United Kingdom . Not only did he have to adjust to new and added
Courtesy of GloxoSmithKline
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With continuing support from leaders like Ribeiro , GSK ’ s coaching program will only become more robust . Coaching has increased 2,900 percent within the last five years with coaching embedded systemically into the organization , increasing empowerment , accountability and confidence .
“ There are a lot of huge ripple effects that happen as a result of coaching in terms of empowerment , in terms of satisfaction , but also in terms of leadership effectiveness ,” Bonneywell explains . “ I do recommend people to do it , with caution , making sure they use credible ICF Core Competencies , making sure they have credentialed coaches and set the standards , but also with the encouragement of senior leaders . The sponsorship of the very senior leaders and our corporate executive team is so very important .”
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