Finishing my series of Work Safe Month question responses is today’s blog titled, Coaching and respectful workplaces.  This topic is in response to the question: What's the role of coaching in establishing respectful workplaces?

I had trouble getting started on this topic, my mind kept changing the question around to the role of respect in coaching - successful coaching relies on building respect and trust! I found it difficult to think about this relationship in reverse.  To keep writing I am going to assume that yes, we are talking about the respectful coach.

Respectful cultures rely on respectful relationships and respectful relationships rely on respectful people. 

So, can respect be taught?  Can an individual be coached to be respectful?  I think yes.

A great coach asks the right questions and guides, develops and challenges us to meet specific goals, improve our performance and reach our potential.  A coach helps us to unlock our potential through recognition of our strengths and areas for development, and development of our emotional intelligence. 

Respect is not something that can be simply directed; “You WILL be respectful”, does not guarantee a respectful workplace culture.  But coaching that creates buy-in, encourages and develops; empathy, self-reflection and great communication skills will by default encourage respectful people, relationships and cultures.

Coaching creates change, safely and with support.

Good coaching is an investment in people, and I see great coaching in workplaces that value and appreciate their staff.

So, to respond to the question: What's the role of coaching in establishing respectful workplaces?
Coaching develops individually respectful people, respectful people create respectful relationships and respectful relationships create respectful cultures.

Respect at Work helps to create respectful workplace cultures – contact us now