Professional Coaching Produces Remarkable Business Results

LEXINGTON, Ky., May 31, 2011 /PRNewswire/ -- What do the BBC, Deloitte, Genentech, IBM, MCI, NASA, Solaglas Windowcare, SYSCO Food Services of Canada, TINE Group, University of Texas at Dallas, and Verizon Business all have in common? Each has received an award from the International Coach Federation (ICF) for their commitment to utilizing professional coaching to accomplish strategic business goals.

Since 2005, the ICF has awarded the ICF International Prism Award to organizations that have achieved remarkable improvements in business directly related to coaching and coaching programs. Organizations interested in sharing their experience with professional coaching and being considered for the award this year have until July 11, 2011 to apply. Application submission information is available at http://www.coachfederation.org/awards.  

"The International Prism Award is granted to organizations that invest time and the necessary finances into making coaching an integral part of their business culture," said 2011 ICF President and Professional Certified Coach Ed Modell. "From the successes of our past award recipients, we've seen this dedication to professional coaching pay off time and time again."  

Last year's award recipients, biotech industry leader Genentech, acquired by the Roche Group in March 2009, and Norway's largest private dairy group, the TINE Group, attribute improvements in responsiveness, collaboration, and improved leadership to their use of professional coaching.

Through the vision of CIO Todd Pierce, Genentech implemented their Personal Excellence Program (PEP) in 2007. Today coaching has been offered to over 400 employees within the IT department at the company's headquarters office. An impact study concluded that PEP is conservatively producing an estimated 1.5 to 2 dollars for every dollar spent to deliver coaching.

"Through PEP, we have created a smarter, more agile and more responsive organization," Pierce said. "There is greater collaboration across functions, customer relationships have improved, employee engagement is noticeably higher, and we are better positioned to respond to change and lead technological innovation."

Since 2005, at the wishes of TINE Group CEO Hanne Refsholt, 400 managers have been through a program that teaches a coaching leadership style and offers individual coaching. TINE has extended coaching even further by initiating a coaching program for their 350 advisors of farmers. TINE attributes increased global competition, improved leadership styles, and better customer relations to their program.  

"We believe the effects coaching has given show this is one of the best ways of developing our employees, and we will start expanding the coaching as a leadership skill abroad," said Stein Aasgaard, President of HR and International Sales, TINE Group.

ICF defines coaching as partnering with clients in a thought-provoking and creative process that inspires them to maximize their personal and professional potential. Coaching is a distinct service and differs greatly from therapy, consulting, mentoring, or training. Individuals who engage in a coaching relationship can expect to experience fresh perspectives on personal challenges and opportunities, enhanced thinking and decision-making skills, enhanced interpersonal effectiveness, and increased confidence in carrying out their chosen work and life roles.

The International Coach Federation is the leading global organization for coaches, with over 20,000 members in more than 100 countries, dedicated to advancing the coaching profession by setting high ethical standards, providing independent certification, and building a worldwide network of credentialed coaches. The ICF is the only organization that awards a global credential which is currently held by more than 7,200 coaches worldwide. For more information, please visit our website at http://www.coachfederation.org.

ICF HEADQUARTERS CONTACTS:

Ross Brown, +1.859.219.3570, [email protected]
Ann Jarvis, +1.859.226.4428, [email protected]
Kristin Kelly, +1.859.219.3614, [email protected]
Amy Richardson, +1.859.219.3550, [email protected]  

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SOURCE International Coach Federation