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BOSTON – Companies are more often providing coaching to management and high-potential employees as a way to gain an edge over their competitors, according to ClearRock Inc., an outplacement and executive coaching firm headquartered in Boston.

Even in a difficult economic environment, companies more frequently are giving coaching to executives and high-potential employees to sharpen their skills and ensure the proper development of future leaders. “Many companies have released numerous employees – including management layers – and they want to be sure that those remaining have the right capabilities for today’s and tomorrow’s business needs,” said Susan Klaubert, vice president with ClearRock.

“Businesses are also using coaching to ensure that employees who have been newly promoted to replace those no longer there have the required skills,” added Klaubert. “Due to cutbacks, companies may be lacking staff or expertise needed to coach newly promoted employees in proper management and interpersonal abilities. They also may want to bring in consultants who have more experience in developing new leaders and high-potentials.”

Companies are more frequently using coaching as a means of gaining an edge over their competitors even in a difficult business environment by:

•       Ensuring that today’s leaders have the right skills to match the current business environment. “Managing during a recession requires different capabilities than managing in better times. Leaders must be knowledgeable about various ways to keep employees motivated, and there are fewer monetary methods such as raises and bonuses to help them do this,” said Klaubert.

•       Aiding newly promoted employees become successful in their new positions. “In a good economy, about one-third of newly promoted employees fail within the first 18 months in their new jobs by being released, resigning, or receiving a poor evaluation. This number tends to rise during a tough business environment,” said Klaubert. “Also, coaching is assisting the next generation of new leaders, who are replacing retiring Baby Boomers, to be successful in their new positions.”

•       Helping develop the skills of high-potential employees. “Organizations are more frequently providing coaching to high-potential employees to assure that they acquire, at an earlier stage in their careers, qualities and abilities most commonly associated with upper-level managers. These management traits include strategic thinking, vision, creativity, innovation, decisiveness, and motivating others,” said Klaubert.

•       Sharpening employees’ management styles and capabilities. “Businesses are using coaching to hone employees’ interpersonal skills, management techniques, and leadership skills and abilities,” said Klaubert.

•       Correcting substandard management behaviors of employees whose roles are critical to the organization. “Coaching helps companies correct the ineffective management behaviors of employees whose roles are essential, such as technical experts who may not be as proficient in management skills. These ineffective management behaviors include poor communication skills, or the inability to manage or develop direct reports, and can be especially counter-productive in a down economy,” said Klaubert.

About ClearRock, Inc.
ClearRock, Inc. is a Boston-based leadership development, executive coaching, and outplacement firm that is recognized for bringing best-in-class offerings to the coaching process. We offer developmental coaching for high-potential managers and executives; new-leader coaching for newly hired or recently promoted managers and leaders; performance coaching to help managers and executives become more effective, and outplacement coaching through a combination of a “high touch” career transition assistance and comprehensive “high tech” resources.

Our coaches and consultants have decades of experience, and our customized approach factors in everything from career goals and organizational objectives to client and consultant/coach compatibility. We tailor action plans for every organization and individual we work with, and our track record speaks for itself – numerous advancements for our coachees, rapid re-employment for our outplacement candidates, and long-lasting client relationships. For more information, visit www.clearrock.com.