Coaching Skills Training: Making the Case for Coaching: Part One
March 2nd, 2010 | 
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These days employees expect to be developed as part of the deal. Human Resource folk mumble (and sometimes grumble) about something called the psychological contract. This is an unwritten, tacit contract that sits alongside the formal, written employment contract and is just as important. The employment contract sets out the basic consideration which will be along the lines of “if you do what we ask you to do, we’ll pay you X”. In reality things are of course more complex and the nature of the work required will be detailed in role profiles and the like, while the reward part will be similarly defined as salary, bonus, etc. and a range of non-financial rewards such as holidays. The psychological contract is each party’s understanding of what each other will do to play ‘fair’. For most of the 20th Century that ran along the lines of ‘turn up for work and do a reasonable job and we’ll employ you for life’ But this contract was torn up as part of the way working life was transformed from the 1980s to date. The ‘job for life’ has gone forever and it is probably impossible and certainly unwise to assume that we will have only one or two employers throughout our working life. The psychological contract these days runs along the lines of ‘in exchange for my efforts at work I expect to be developed and build my CV so that I increase my overall employment prospects’.
In the UK at the time of writing, there is still a scarcity of skills which means that employers are having to work harder to recruit and retain the best people; the so-called war for talent. This makes the job market a seller’s market with potential employees in a strong bargaining position. Recruitment firms even talk of the ‘reverse interview’ where candidates size up their chances of development before considering whether to accept any offer. To match this expectation with only the orthodox training and development offering of classroom training and external qualifications would be dreadfully expensive and ultimately unworkable. There will always be a time and a place for such things in an overall learning and development strategy of course, but coaching – particularly when delivered by managers – provides a more cost effective,tailor made and timely solution.
The change to the psychological contract is but one of numerous changes that have been played out in the theatre of work in recent years. The current industrial relations climate sees the pendulum swinging back towards the employee and their rights, with some employers bemoaning the bureaucracy and red-tape that this entails. Nevertheless it seems that family friendly policies like Flexible Working and Parental Leave are here to stay; driven at least in part by people’s desire to want a better work-life balance.
Other social changes have also had an impact on working life. Work now has a very different role in people’s lives. Where once work was simply the way we made enough money to pay the bills, we now work for a host of psychological as well as economic reasons. For example many people now fulfil their need for social interaction through work – I guess because of the amount of time we spend there! Others fulfil their esteem needs through work; enjoying the satisfaction that comes from doing a meaningful work and doing it well. It’s as if collectively we’ve all moved up a level or two on Maslow’s hierarchy of needs. In Western economies in general and in the UK in particular it is unlikely that anyone is going to fall on really hard times if they’re out of work – we have a welfare system that provides support, so a management style that invites people to be thankful they receive a salary is unlikely to prove very motivating. Instead we need to acknowledge that we need a more human approach; one that captures the variety of motivations for people to come to work. Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) is a start but there is much work to do at the level of the fundamental relationship between the manager and their team.
Matt Somers
http://www.articlesbase.com/business-articles/coaching-skills-training-making-the-case-for-coaching-part-one-688374.html
Posted in Contract Management Training
Is JaMarcus Russell Betraying Raider Nation?
On Sunday afternoon the Denver Broncos defeated the Oakland Raiders 23-3 on their home field. For Raider Nation the loss couldn’t be more painful. For the first time in six years the Raiders had a reason to be optimistic. The 2008 season ended with two back-to-back wins (in convincing fashion I might add) over teams that had playoff aspirations.
In the offseason the run defense, offensive line and wide receiving core were all addressed in the draft and free agency.
To help coach JaMarcus Russell, Raiders hired not one, but two offensive gurus to help his mechanics. Ted Tollner, a disciple of “Air Coryell” and “The Greatest Show On Turf” was hired to be the passing game coordinator. Paul Hackett, whose coaching resume included quarterbacks Joe Montana, Rich Gannon, and Jeff Garcia, was also signed to aid and mentor Russell.
It all looked so perfect. So what happened? The answer to that question is in a timetable that started in OTAs and continues to last Sunday.
JaMarcus Russell showed up for camp early to workout at the facility. That was good news to Raider Nation until OTAs started and he was not missing for the better part of a week. When he did show up, he was once again overweight. When he took the field his passes were described as “inaccurate,” “wild,” and “nowhere near the targeted receiver.” Pictures surfaced of JaMarcus Russell partying it up in a nightclub. Although he didn’t look as “compromised” as Matt Leinart or Vince Young, rumors began to circulate about his commitment.
Yet Raider Nation stood behind him, after all he was learning new footwork from the great Paul Hackett. It takes time.
Things quieted down after that, as he began to do much better.
When training camp started, Russell was described as being very streaky. Some good-looking throws followed by some horrible throws. Russell was also drawing criticism for not being approachable by the media. Meanwhile Jeff Garcia was hitting the airwaves and making his case for the starting position by stating that the Raiders need to field the best quarterback.
And Raider Nation stood beside him.
During the preseason, Russell had good games against the Cowboys and 49ers, but fell to pieces in the third game against the Saints. After the game Greg Ellis called out the team, without naming names, about their partying before a game. We all assumed he was calling out the defense.
Opening night against the Chargers, Russell had a good night with modest numbers, he looked like he was ready to lead the Raiders offense. He drove the offense down the field making big passes when he had to including a fourth down touchdown pass to Louis Murphy. However since then Russell has been nothing short of putrid, only matched by his leadership skills.
After the Bronco game some tailgaters, who were parked by the road where the players come and go, and this was what they saw:
“Our tailgate happens next to the road the players drive in and out of the stadium. after the dismal game some of the boys went back to do a bit more tailgating and eat…a white Rolls Royce is leaving the stadium with JaMarcus Russell driving…fans know this and are booing…the passenger side window rolls down and with JaMarcus driving one of his home boys on the passenger side yells out “Well at least we are eating good, you guys are still broke”…and JaMarcus visibly chuckles in the driver’s seat…”
Raider nation has supported Russell, but it became crystal clear last Sunday that he hasn’t been doing anything to improve his game. Worse, he doesn’t seem to have any remorse about his woeful performances. He apparently is oblivious to the fact that time is running out on his sorry career. Is this is what Jeff Garcia was trying to communicate in his interviews? Could this is why he wanted his release and didn’t want any part of Russell?
Soon Russell will join the ranks of Matt Leinart and Vince Young who also let their wealth and need for social life over rule their responsibility to their teammates and fans.
Raider Nation deserves better than this and to allow one player to scuttle a promising season is nauseating. It took six years to get Oakland’s head above water and I for one do not want a self-centered player to push it back under.
Here’s the link I got
http://www.footballnewsshare.com/29329-oakland-raiders-is-jamarcus-russell-betraying-raider-nation/
JaMarcus has the talent and skill set to become a Great QB but obviously he doesn’t want to learn. Also what I found most distrubing that he doesn’t care about playing good and is just counting his money.
B-U-S-T
What does that spell?
BUST!!!!!
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Is this a joke about how fat he is? There is no way I am reading all you wrote.
I guess my answer is yes.
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Everyone in the locker room says JaMarcus doesn’t try at all. He doesn’t come in early and he doesn’t work hard. Cut that bust and move on.
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i say yes because they did so good against the chargers and then they lose to denver 23-3 that is embarrissing and do u no how hard the chargers are to beat
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What’s the saying, "you can lead a horse to water, but you can’t make him drink it". He clearly does not love football, he loves the lifestyle. This is why teams don’t just go by talent alone anymore. Him and Vince Young are a disgrace.
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Until Al Davis is gone Raider nation will suffer more of the same.
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I can tell you that he does have exceptional physical qualities, but he’s as smart as a bag of rocks. I watched him during his stay at LSU and he made some really bone head plays. Have you ever herd him speak? They need to put sub titles when he talks.
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Raider nation does not deserve better then this! Al Davis has had their support fianancialy for the longest time no matter what he does!Unless fans make a statement he will continue to make stupid moves like leaveing this turd in just so he doesn’t have egg on his face for drafting this guy #1.
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Yep he is, he is a disgrace. He’s a fat blob playing QB and should be traded and get something back for him while they still possibly can.
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Sorry. I have ADHD. Couldn’t get 1/10 through it. You should submit it to SI as a feature article.
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I think JaMarcus just doesn’t want to do what it takes to be a great Quarterback. Some guys when they get that huge contract in the NFL, they just happy with just collecting a paycheck. I think with is lack of commitment with is weight and the fact that he is partying it up in nightclubs, tells me that he just doesn’t care. He is a lot like Ryan Leaf, he need to grow up a bit and understand what it takes to be a professional Quarterback. Maybe once the Raiders cut him, he will understand better.
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