Coaching Diary: Personal Outplacement Programme
October 07, 2010 at 11:32 AM
Recent events in an NHS PCT placed 7 senior individuals in a challenging position, with their jobs placed at risk, and competing with each other for re-appointment. For all, this was the third or fourth such process in five years, and for the majority there were some “live” memories of those earlier difficult experiences. Through offering personal outplacement programmes the Trust wanted to ensure that these individuals found an appropriate way forward when the market and life-stage did not present obvious opportunities.
We provided a coaching-based approach to outplacement in which the answers as to what the individual would most want to do were identified and agreed, and any mindset barriers to moving forward were removed.
We designed with the 7 individuals a coaching programme (resourced to offer a mix of 12 hours of face to face coaching, assessments, 360 feedback, and telephone /email support) and divided our work into three phases:
Phase 1 – Preparation and Orientation
In the first phase we enabled them to:
• Understand their career progression so far, and how they have succeeded in making transitions
• Gain feedback from other parties with whom they have worked, to understand the impact they have made
• Become more aware of their Emotional Intelligence, including self-awareness and awareness of others, and enable appropriate personal development
• Identify their priorities, at a practical and deeper levels, at this critical stage in their life and career
• Discover the working environment or environments that will suit at this stage
• Uncover the positive developments that they want to make for their self
• Clarify their personal and career goals for this next period in their life
Simultaneously, we worked with each as they explored the possibilities that were open to them and developed a plan to enable the accomplishment of their goals.
Phase 2 – Testing and Feedback
In the second phase we worked with the individuals as the plans crystallised and we tested possibilities and gained feedback:
• Reviewing the presentation they will make to interested parties
• Helping them to prepare for key meetings
• Providing appropriate interview practice and rehearsal
• Reviewing feedback indirectly and, where appropriate, directly
• Reviewing the planning based upon the feedback to date
Phase 3 – Implementation
In Phase 3 our focus was on enabling the individual to deliver a clear result that moved them forward and even converted the final sessions into onboarding coaching as they successfully moved into their preferred roles and / or new organisations.
Benefits
All 7 individuals achieved their objectives, which included:
Two exit strategies that included early retirement and consultancy terms
One promotion to the dream role that placed her exactly where she wanted to be for the next reorganisation – on the Board; and one interim appointment to consolidate and grow into what would have been a significant step up to an operational Board appointment before having to face a competitive appointment process
A second choice that turned into the role where “I am enjoying being at work again, which I realise I had not felt this for the past couple of years so that is a real benefit... I keep pushing myself so have achieved some fantastic results”
A move from the NHS where “thanks to (the coaching) I ...went on to find a job where I could not be happier.”
Testimonial
Plus Partnership continues to provide coaching to senior executives working in this Trust, including Directors and Assistant Directors. In the words of one of the individuals who received coaching through this arrangement:
“I started this coaching programme not really knowing what I was getting into. I approached it with an open mind and a healthy scepticism borne from attending a few too many seminars on leadership, team building or self awareness which had been mildly useful but failed to permanently affect my way of working...I didn’t know what I didn’t know.
Without a shadow of a doubt I know that ... my coaching has demonstrated real benefits for my organisation. I would recommend this coaching programme to anyone”
Coach: Liz Buckle
©2010 Plus Partnership Ltd