Program Overview

Operational Coaching Part 1 - STAR Coach Practitioner

Overview

Operational Coaching Part 1 - STAR Coach Practitioner is a scientifically proven program that helps adopt an Operational Coaching style of management and bring coaching into the flow of everyday work. It addresses the need for a modern approach to management and leadership, offering a vital and modern approach to increasing impact and influence as a proactive engager of people to support effective and sustainable change.

Course Summary

The course explores the difference between traditional forms of coaching and mentoring vs. adopting an Operational Coaching approach. It takes participants step-by-step through the STAR model, including exercises designed to get them practicing quickly. Participants will benefit from helpful coaching from colleagues, reflect on areas where adapting their style will pay swift dividends, and develop a coaching mindset.

Who is this Course For?

Operational Coaching Part 1 - STAR Coach Practitioner is suitable for any leader, senior executive, project or line manager, or anyone aspiring to become any of those. It is intended to help develop a more engaging Operational Coaching style of management that can be used throughout the workday (and beyond), pulling people towards them and inviting them to contribute their talents to solving day-to-day issues at hand.

Entry Requirements

There are no formal entry requirements; as leaders and managers, we all must respond to the evolving workplace environment, and learning to draw the best from others is imperative. Before attending the workshop, a small amount of pre-work is required to ensure all delegates can contribute to the practical exercises throughout the day.

What's Included in the Course Cost?

• One workbook
• Pre-work before the one-day workshop
• One-day workshop and workplace missions
• Reflective question exercises after each workshop to be conducted back in the workplace
• A supporting STAR pack, which includes the book The Answer is a Question accompanying the programme and some other aide mémoires
• Final small-group practitioner session

Discounts and Offers

• Group: 15% discount for groups or institutions
• Coach Practitioner and Manager Practitioner bundle: 20% discount on the combined price
• Returning short course delegates: 10% discount
• UoW undergraduate/postgraduate students, alumni, and colleagues: 20% discount

Course Structure

The course is a non-residential program that runs for six weeks. It begins with a small amount of pre-work before attending a one-day workshop built around the core STAR model, which underpins the Operational Coaching approach. The workshop is interactive, and participants will work with other delegates on exercises designed to encourage confidence in applying the STAR model in day-to-day conversations to help engage others.

After the workshop, participants will conduct several short workplace missions (conversations with team members/colleagues) over several weeks and answer reflective questions on each (to be submitted).

The program concludes with a virtual, small-group practitioner session of 90 minutes to reflect on what's been learned, practice some more, and gain verbal and written feedback from the tutor.

Tutor Information

Carol McLachlan is a Programme Director, Executive Business Coach, and Trainer at Notion Ltd. She is also a Senior Chartered Accountant, ILM 7 Executive Coach, and holds a PhD. Carol has over 20 years of experience in senior roles at EY, ICAEW, and Left Brain Plus Ltd (Founder). She has designed and delivered coaching and training programs for clients like Sainsburys, KPMG, Deloitte, and several universities, including assessing accredited programs up to Level 7.

Teaching and Assessment

The course is a practical program to develop skills and confidence as participants adopt new behaviors in their interactions with others. Consequently, this is an interactive program where participants will coach other delegates and receive coaching.

The pre-work prepares participants for some exercises conducted during the one-day workshop, and active discussion of the insights generated form an essential part of the learning. Supported by a detailed workbook, which will become an essential reference, and a pack of supporting materials, including the course book The Answer is a Question, a final Practitioner session brings the course to a close with final written and verbal feedback given to each participant.

Submission of reflective learning logs from the workplace missions (the evidence portfolio) and attendance at the Practitioner session are the requirements for the award of the STAR Coach Practitioner certificate.

Your Career

The rate at which participants develop their communication and engagement skills will likely be the most significant determinant of their career trajectory. Gaining the confidence to draw from others respectfully whilst helping them grow benefits participants and their teams. Becoming the manager that others aspire to work with is the greatest testament to their developing skills and differentiating themselves as an effective manager while depressurizing will allow them to be a more reflective and present leader, opening the way for internal advancement.

Developing the Operational Coaching skills participants will learn from pursuing the STAR Coach Practitioner program is a critical skill set in its own right. As an adjunct to other courses, including project management, Agile, and change management, STAR provides the catalyst for change.

Accreditation

The Operational Coaching Part 1 - STAR Coach Practitioner certification is accredited by APMG-International.

Learning Outcomes

At the End of this Course, Participants Will Be Able To:

• Adopt more of an Operational Coaching style of management, and: stop themselves from stepping into every problem
• Recognize the potential if they can coach rather than direct by knowing how to think, could there be a better outcome?
• Be able to ask questions in a way that provokes the most helpful thinking for the benefit of the other person
• Know how to secure a result that gains commitment from others, helping them to retain accountability and see through agreed actions
• Be confident in giving both appreciative and constructive feedback using an Operational Coaching style
• Know how to use this approach to support a range of projects and initiatives that draw on the talents of others
• Differentiate themselves as a leader and manager known for their practical engagement skills

Benefits for the Organisation Include:

• Participants' ability to foster an increase in trust amongst the team by following up on completed actions they've agreed to take with appropriate appreciative and constructive feedback will build the confidence of team members to take on similar challenges
• Freeing up participants' time by not stepping into every problem brought to them will allow them to focus on more of the higher-value aspects of their role, contributing at a higher level themselves
• Performing as a role model for an Operational Coaching style of management measurably improves performance and engages broader talents
• Applying these skills quickly invites team members and others participants interact with to challenge their thinking and limitations and fosters opportunities for advancement

Location

This course is taught at the Marylebone Campus in Central London, within easy walking distance of Regent's Park and Marylebone High Street.

Accessibility

Together with AccessAble, the University has created online Disabled Access Guides for its buildings.