Team Coaching: Artists at Work: South African Coaches Share their Theory and Practice

No company has ever succeeded simply because it has brilliant individuals in its ranks - in fact many have failed because they have not succeeded in getting great talent to work together as a team. Every single South African business lives or dies by its ability to get its people to work together, in constantly changing teams, towards achieving the common goals of the company. Team Coaching: Artists at Work shows how the right coaching interventions can build skills in individuals so that they can become effective team players in a variety of work situations. The book is, not surprisingly, a team effort. A group of top South African coaches got together to share everything they had used individually when coaching teams. This pooling of best practice was so exciting, the outcome so much more than anticipated, that they decided to write this book together. This is not a DIY manual, nor is it a bible. Corporate teams are often temporary and shifting in nature with continuous restructuring, promotions, new people moving in, others resigning. Flexibility and creativity are critical. That's precisely where team coaching interventions come in, to increase individual self-awareness, enhance people's ability to adapt to the styles of others, and create cohesion and commitment of how to work together. That's when the real people power of an organisation starts to make itself felt, when talented individuals become effective team members. Coaches are artists, who bring their facilitation talents and tools to the team to make this happen. This is a book for business and team leaders who would like to turn a collection of outstanding individuals into an unbeatable team. Coaching is one of the fastest growing professions and this book contributes to wider understanding of what potential coaching offers not only for business teams but also for societal transformation.

About the Author :
Helena Dolny is a freelance coach, consultant, facilitator and founder member of Grey Matters. Her interest in personal and institutional transformation was sparked when she was managing director of the Land Bank of South Africa and she embarked on a major career shift. In 2005 she was awarded her MA (cum laude) from I-Coach Academy, Middlesex University, United Kingdom. She is a Time To Think consultant and faculty member. In March 2009 she completed a three-year commitment to building a coaching and mentoring programme and team at Standard Bank's Global Leadership Centre. Helena has traversed the roles of agricultural economist, civil servant, doctoral researcher on land markets, development facilitator and agricultural banker. Her consistency is a commitment to enabling others to develop themselves and purposefully shape and reshape their lives in an ever-changing society. Her focus is on creative thinking environments and leadership. She enjoys writing. She is the editor of Joe Slovo: the Unfinished Biography, and the author of Banking on Change.