Coaching Teams
Author: Suzi Benoff
This article first appeared in Being In Action, 1997, 9, 1-2
INTRODUCTION: The joy of being a coach is the abundance of unique opportunities to apply coaching skills in a variety of settings. I've had two opportunities to coach corporate teams.
The first group was the legal department of a Fortune 100 chemical company steeped in tradition and hierarchy. The visionary leader of the group wanted to create an inter-disciplinary team of 15 leaders that would essentially replace him in implementing their cutting-edge transformational program that is revolutionizing the practice of law. My role was to "be the glue" that held this team together. I was to coach them on leadership, team building, strategic planning, and most importantly, communication.
The second company was a national litigation support services firm that recently went public.