Coaching matters

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According to some estimates, coaching is a burgeoning industry that was worth $15 billion (US) in 2019. And yet, most professionals in India aren't aware about the need for and benefits of coaching, or even cognisant about what the process entails. The International Coaching Week, which is being conducted from May 17 to 23, hopes to address this gap. The virtual sessions are open to all participants by simply signing up.

Sagorika Kantharia

"Coaching is a valuable tool for organisational and individual development that can facilitate transformation and progression. Our goal, through this festival, is to raise awareness about coaching so that it becomes an integral part of our society; we believe that everyone should have access to a coach whenever they want to make an important change," explains Priya Sharma Shaikh, present of International Coaching Federation's Mumbai Chapter. Coaches create a confidential space for their clients where the latter know that they will not be judged or overruled, she adds. The role of a coach is never to tell you what to do, points out Sagorika Kantharia, an organisation transformation specialist and executive coach: "Coaching involves making you more aware about possibilities and mindful about the implications of your choices."

Priya Sharma Shaikh

During the pandemic, when employees are overwhelmed, overworked and even losing their jobs, coaching can help them adapt to the new normal. On the organisational front, it can make companies and leaders more empathetic towards the circumstances the staffers find themselves in, and thus establish trust in the system. Employees can identify and leverage coaching to develop skillsets that will help them advance in their chosen careers, says Kantharia.

Email: corporate.icfmumbaichapter@gmail.com