LEXi was invited by Emma Fallon, Senior Capability Development Partner at Canada Life, to design an experiential programme centred on Coaching Skills for Managers. Canada Life chose to partner with LEXi for our expertise in drama-based learning. Our dynamic approach combines collaborative group work with individual skills practice and encourages participants to explore new behaviours in an engaging and inclusive setting.
The objective of Coaching Skills for Managers was to shift the tone of the company’s workplace dialogue from directive exchanges to a more collaborative approach. This bespoke programme was designed to resonate across departments and teams, meaning the concepts and scenarios should be appropriate for a variety of contexts.
Our design approach was to give participants an understanding of the foundations of coaching which would equip them to have impactful conversations, whether brief or in-depth. While qualifying as a professional coach requires significant practice, we believe curious and motivated participants can grasp the fundamentals of a coaching style quickly and use this to great effect in the workplace.
The two-part programme began with a session in which participants reflected on their experiences and perceptions of coaching. In a large, interactive coaching session, the participants were encouraged to articulate goals in their personal lives. We introduced the GROW model by John Whitmore, a simple yet transformative framework for coaching conversations. Our Actor / Facilitators brought this to life by demonstrating its application in practical scenarios, ensuring the method felt relevant and achievable.
In the second half of the session, participants engaged in one-to-one coaching skills practice with an Actor / Facilitator where they applied the GROW model in real-time. This interactive practice, coupled with specific and personalised feedback, provided a supportive environment for experimentation and skill development.
Feedback from the participants has been overwhelmingly positive, reflecting its immediate impact. Now in its third year, this ongoing partnership is a testament to the enduring impact of experiential learning and we are proud to support Canada Life in cultivating a workplace culture that champions collaboration, curiosity, and impactful communication.