Enabling Development July 2010 newsletter with articles on Coaching creating benefits in the An Garda Siochana (Irish Police Service), Taking control of Time and Self Image

1. Walking
the talk ENABLING YOU TO MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE
July 2010
Welcome
to the July 2010 issue of
Walking the Talk.
Coaching gave
This issue has a distinctive
Irish flavour. Bob Turvey
me a road map to
recently met Irish Rail CEO
Dick Fearn for an inaugural
discussion about people
reach my goals
development in a railway Louis Harkin is Assistant Commissioner, Strategy,
Training and Professional Standards, at An Garda
industry that has seen
Síochána, the police force in Ireland. He recognised the
spectacular changes over benefits of coaching as early as 2000 and in 2003, as
the last five years. And our Chief Superintendent, Change Management, he invited
interviewee is Louis Harkin, Enabling Development to conduct a ‘pilot’ coaching
programme for him and his senior team. Since then
Assistant Commissioner at
coaching has been provided at many levels in the
An Garda Síochána – the organisation and continues today.
police service in Ireland –
who talks about his personal What benefits did you gain from the knowledge and application, you provided
experience of coaching with coaching? a structure. You encouraged me to do things I
Enabling Development. I now focus on taking responsibility and knew were right but found reasons not to! I
ownership rather than looking for the remember one session when I had committed
Louis was the one who but not delivered and realised that that would
solutions of others. I channel energy into
invited Enabling Develop- taking control of what’s in my domain, and not support me to operate at a different level.
ment to initially run a ‘pilot’ park areas outside my control.
coaching programme Subsequent successes led to increased What was the Return on
confidence in my own ability. I instil a sense Investment
some 8 years ago and the For me it is the sense of discipline and ‘Coaching
of responsibility in my staff and give them the
relationship continues. responsibility to move things along. purpose, which is reflected in my staff and challenged
Coaching expected me to prepare myself their performance. mediocrity
We cannot think of a
and to have clarity of goals, objectives and and just
coaching client who has not approach. My time became better structured Please describe ways in which
wanted to develop more and my relationships more demanding – the coaching has helped improve getting
efficient use of their time. why, what and how. As long as I have a road your performance and career. by. I got
So we hope you find the map, the pressure is off. It instilled in me a I know the performance I expect from me, focused
greater professionalism and a change in and the energy that requires. on my
article ‘How to take control
behaviour and attitudes about what is I know the levels of fitness and rest required
of Time’ a useful reminder purpose.
required at senior levels. I learned how to to deliver.
of one of the most treat people and how to present myself. I know the benefit of reflection. And the
important facets of your life. learning
How useful was the 360 feedback? Has coaching had a lasting effect? doesn’t go
Our coaching point in this It was most useful to have the opinions of Definitely – so much so I regularly suggest to away.’
issue is about another vital others on my strengths and development others, both within and outside the Garda, to
ingredient – self image and areas. I have always had other people in mind invest the time and money.
how the way in which we but I focussed more on staff development.
In which areas has coaching helped
view ourselves determines What did your organisation gain you outside the business?
the person we become. from what you learned? I operate the same way as I do inside of
The way my department operates, the business. Even my golf has a greater sense of
behaviour of my staff has influence on the purpose!
whole organisation, and I expect them to set
the professional level! How would you summarise the
whole experience?
What did you really enjoy about It challenged mediocrity and just getting by.
coaching? I got focused on my purpose. And the
I enjoyed the discipline of each session. I had learning doesn’t go away.
No win, no fee EDL coaching assignments where a clear return on investment was specifically targeted have
generated spectacular results. As a result, in all our contracts we include a clause to waive all or
part of our fee if we do not meet agreed outcomes – we are so confident in our coaching results.
– our guarantee of results Why wouldn’t you wish to contact us to discuss how that would work for you?

2. Walking
the talk ENABLING YOU TO MAKE THE IMPOSSIBLE POSSIBLE
July 2010
Well-spent or wasted?
How to take
control of TIME
First, answer the following questions:
1. Is there any time left for me to do my own job when I
have to deal with numerous meetings, emails, phone
You are what you believe calls?
“Our self-image, strongly held, essentially 2. How many of these distractions actually contribute to
determines what we become.” a productive outcome, rather than being meaningless
inputs and outputs which give a semblance of activity?
“Self-image sets the boundaries
3. How would you like to be in charge of these
of individual accomplishment.”
‘interruptions’ rather than controlled by them?
“The self-image is the key to human On the assumption that your answer above questions – take the
personality and human behaviour. to question 3 is “Yes – the sooner the corresponding actions.
Change the self-image and you change better”, here are some thoughts and a I If not you – then pass it on to the
three-part strategy to create space. right person.
the personality and the behaviour.”
This is all about working effectively I If not now – reschedule to the right
with other people. Other people time.
“Your most important sale in life
probably have different priorities to I If not enough information – ask the
is to sell yourself to yourself.” yours and may want your help with an other party to supply it, or wait until
issue important for them, but not for you get the information yourself.
All of the quotes above are from Maxwell Maltz,
you. Often we want to help but must In practice, say no diplomatically
American surgeon and author of Psycho-
consider how we can do this in a way and help the other person by
Cybernetics, who formulated the science of self-
that allows us to quickly and easily suggesting someone more appropriate
improvement and success.
add value for all concerned and dump (without dumping on them). You can
COACHING POINT the rest. also decline meetings, remove yourself
Putting together some of EDL’s from cc distribution lists and ask those
Your self-image determines the size of the ‘box’ approaches to delegation, effective who send lengthy reports which pages
you live in. Expand your self-image and you meetings and time as a resource, here are critical for you to consider.
expand the size of your box. are three questions you can ask Think about it this way – if a task is
What is one ‘Ah-ha!’ moment you have had yourself when you get a request for a not helpful to you, your boss, your
which changed how you see yourself – your meeting, a cc email or a phone call team or your organisation, then such a
self-image? What is the next breakthrough asking you to do something: task is a waste of time – the opposite
you’re ready for now? A. Does it have to be me? of what we want to achieve.
B. Does it have to be now? Use these checklist questions to
C. Have I sufficient information assess the demands on your time and
to help? you will free up more time to work on
When the request fails the test – ie: the tasks that are meaningful,
you can answer “no” to any of the satisfying and create real value.
Watch this space…
The economy in Ireland has been hard hit over the last two years. However,
investment in Irish Rail within the Transport 21 Investment Programme promises to
deliver the most significant expansion of Ireland’s rail network in almost a century..
Bob Turvey accompanied his friend of many years, rail journalist Paul Whiting, to a
meeting with Dick Fearn, CEO of Irish Rail. While Paul renewed his friendship with
Dick and conducted an interview for Railnews, Bob had an inaugural meeting about
people development within Irish Rail. Further discussions will take place over the
coming months about the possible introduction of EDL coaching.
Walking the Talk is published by Enabling Development Ltd © 2010.
To find out more about how we might help you and your leaders become more effective, please contact us via: e: info@enablingdevelopment.com
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