MENTORING AND COACHING

As a manager we often think we need to be “self sufficient” and have all the answers ourselves – that sounds very lonely and probably impossible to me. To some, calling upon the support of a coach or mentor requires true bravery (well we think it does at the time) but with the benefit of hindsight it will prove to be the most sensible decision we ever made.

When choosing a mentor the single most important element is mutual trust and respect between both parties – this will always be at the forefront of our work together.

Ian Middleton – Managing Director

After many years forging his own success as a Director and Managing Director Ian fully understands how lonely these positions can be and how difficult it is to gain impartial and practical support from others. Let’s be honest no one can be an expert in all areas (strategy, manufacturing, procurement, sales, marketing, finance, logistics etc etc) yet we operate in positions where we are expected to be all things. We work hard in our businesses making it almost impossible to take a “helicopter” position when needed. For all these reasons and many more Ian thrives when coaching and mentoring others and witnessing their individual and business success.

YOUR SUCCESS is our MEASURE of SUCCESS

Mentoring has benefits, these benefits are summarised below:
Knowledge and skills benefit

• Faster learning
• Widens experience
• Developing new knowledge and skills
• Supporting innovation

Managing change

• Support for culture change
• Support for reorganisation and restructuring
• Support for people in new roles and new jobs
• Helps develop a positive attitude to change

Motivation

• Improved job satisfaction and motivation
• Improved commitment to employing organisation
• Improved career progression
• Potential rejuvenation of longer serving staff

Performance

• Enhanced achievement of targets
• Increased productivity
• Reduced complaints

Policy implementation

• Improved staff retention
• Improved implementation of diversity policy
• Better management of "talent"
• Aids development of empowerment policies

Succession planning

• Leadership skills
• Improved succession planning, confidence and well being in change situations

Mentoring can also promote cultural diversity and can be used as a positive tool to enhance quality.