Coaching

To hone professional skills requires study, practice, feedback and reflection. Gaining insights into personal capabilities and motivations enables people to accelerate their development as professionals.  The coach helps the professional to understand their strengths and preferences, and to grow their repertoire of technical and behavioural skills.  Coaching helps professionals develop a clearer understanding of their own roles and responsibilities and builds confidence.  

Anecdotal evidence demonstrates that coaching relationships are valued, stimulate real behavioural change and lead to success.  Studies show that effective coaching can increase individual productivity by 30%.

The executive coach acts as a sounding board, a mentor, a source of knowledge and ideas and honest feedback.  A successful coaching relationship will encompass a broad range of skills from tactical awareness to strategic thinking; from self-awareness to understanding colleagues.  

Of the many tools used by successful coaches, Socratic questioning is one of the most valuable.  

It has long been recognised that a key part of the senior underwriter's job is to develop, coach and train junior underwriters which supports the view that one of the key elements for the successful implementation of professional apprenticeships is the part played by the manager, coach and mentor.