Tools that Work for Organizational Coaching

Whether you're a small nonprofit reliant upon the commitment of volunteers or a corporation with offices around the globe, the chances are good that you're always on the lookout for tools that will help you develop a cohesive team.

While life coaching and business coaching can be exceptionally beneficial to organizations, there are a number of coaching tools that can be used in-house, without the assistance of a life coach or business coach. One such tool can best be described as associative playing cards. Although one might assume that coaching cards are like tarot cards, they are really worlds apart. These cards are more like self-improvement and self-development cards, in that they enhance personal awareness and create an understanding of diverse perspectives.

The great thing about coaching cards is that, while they're thought-provoking, they're not provocative. For that reason, it's unlikely that using them will generate resistance from employees, board members, or management. Instead, they can be used as a springboard to discuss any number of issues that arise in an organization and generate workplace-related insights.

The cards can be used in group settings or in one-on-one situations - without the need for an outside facilitator. Typically, a pack contains 65 cards, along with a layout chart and notepad. In addition, there is a coaching book that has a section dedicated to each card. The book usually contains a story regarding the card, relevant quotations, and philosophical and concrete questions. Although self-improvement is often a corollary benefit, the process and questions help pinpoint how issues are currently affecting the organization and ways that those issues might be resolved.

These kinds of coaching games can be enormously useful for professional development. In a group setting, coaching cards can foster quality interaction and cooperation among participants. They can also give people the opportunity to approach issues and dilemmas from many points of view, thus improving their problem-solving skills.

The insights gained through the use of coaching cards can be useful in a number of situations. For new or longstanding teams, card interpretation can illuminate others' viewpoints, break the ice, and iron out difficulties. Using such cards can trigger insights during feedback processes, and help your organization define strategic goals and visions. They can be invaluable when you recruit and interview potential talent, and can be effective in sales training sessions. Even brainstorming sessions and staff meetings can be more productive when organizational coaching tools are employed.

If you select the right coaching game, even the most recalcitrant of participants will climb on board. With inviting designs and agreeable prompts, the best coaching cards inspire your employees or volunteers to open up, share their experiences, trust other team members, and appreciate that different perspectives bring value to any project.

In order to perform at their peak, everyone needs the opportunity to contemplate, communicate, and expand their point of view. The best coaching cards provide the space to do that, while paving the way for greater insight and performance.

To learn more about subjects like coaching please visit the web site at: http://www.thecoachingame.com

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About the Author

+Chris Robertson is a published author of Majon International. All Rights Reserved. Copyright 2011 (Sun May 31 2009) Majon International. Majon International is one of the worlds MOST popular internet marketing and internet advertising companies on the web. Visit their main business resource internet marketing web site at: http://www.majon.com