Liz Needham: The Importance of Coaching as a HR Professional

I was recently asked whether being able to coach is particularly important if you work in HR. My immediate reaction was yes of course it is! This got me thinking about why I feel passionately that leaders and managers should understand coaching as a technique and be able to use it appropriately.   

As a CIPD and CMI tutor for learners at MOL for the past year and I recently spoke to Emily Allen who is the Product Manager for CIPD qualifications about the choices HR learners make on the programmes. I found it interesting when she said:

“While coaching is integrated into a number of MOL’s CIPD and CMI modules, learners often don’t choose to study modules on coaching.”

But... ignoring coaching overlooks the value it can bring to the workplace!

As pioneers in the HR industry and providers of CIPD courses, MOL tutors aim to challenge this notion and underscore why we believe coaching isn’t just an optional skill, but a vital competency for all HR professionals. 

Research shows that in the UK, the engagement level of employees is as low as 8%! This is an alarming problem and should be a priority for HR teams. 

Here, we'll delve into the reasons why coaching is valuable for those in HR roles, and how it can drive individual, team, and organisational success in areas such as:

• Empowering employees
• Improving leadership effectiveness
• Facilitating change management
• Building high performing teams
• Improving employee engagement and retention

Read on to learn more and discover how our CIPD qualifications can help you make the most of your team!

Reason 1: Empowering employees

As an HR professional, one of the most important aspects of your role is to empower employees. Your job is to strengthen the team at the workplace and help individuals realise their full potential.

By having meaningful conversations, HR professionals help individuals identify their strengths and weaknesses, so that they can figure out their areas of improvement and set important goals.

Through guided self-discovery and goal setting, employees become more engaged and accountable for their growth journey.

Reason 2: Leadership effectiveness

A workplace is only as strong as its leaders. One of the roles HR professionals undertake is to work closely with leaders, helping to develop talent and plan for the future of the company. Relying on your current batch of leaders and overlooking potential new talent means you are not securing the safety and future of the company. 

Coaching helps HR professionals assist leaders in improving their leadership abilities, so teams can be managed well, and talent can be developed. By encouraging coaching throughout their organisations, HR professionals help make sure there are strong leaders ready to step up when needed.

Read more: Why CIPD Level 5 Is the Best Way to Advance Your Career

Reason 3: Facilitating change management

We’re living in an era of rapid change.

To stay on top, organisations must adapt swifty to stay competitive. In fact, research shows organisations that implement Change Management are 47% more likely to achieve their objectives, compared to those that don’t integrate it.

HR teams must help the team stay ahead of the curve by implementing coaching techniques that facilitate new learning. This makes sure that everyone on the team is guided through transitions and is on top of their game.

Reason 4: Building high-performing teams

As an HR professional, you want your team to work well together and perform well. When you’re good at coaching, you can facilitate team-building exercises and cultivate a workplace culture of mutual respect. 

By honing in on the collective strengths of diverse team members, HR professionals contribute to the creation of high-performing teams who are capable of delivering exceptional results.

Reason 5: Driving employee engagement and retention

Employee engagement and retention is an important factor for determining how successful your company will be.

Research shows employees who feel in control of their careers are 20% more likely to stay in their roles. This statistic highlights the importance of clear career trajectories and supportive leadership through coaching.

HR professionals who have good coaching skills can foster meaningful connections with employees, understand their aspirations and concerns, and provide tailored support to enhance job satisfaction and career progression. This means that not only are you building a skilled team, but you’re improving employee retention, too. 

As one of my clients recently reflected, “mentoring is about the work, but coaching is all about you.”

Gain a CIPD HR qualification with MOL Learn

Ready to advance your career in Human Resources? 

Learn all about coaching and more - enhance your skills by gaining a CIPD HR qualification with MOL Learn. 

Whether you're looking to specialise in HR management, Learning and Development, or Organisational Development; our accredited CIPD qualification will equip you with the knowledge and expertise needed to excel in your role. 

Gain CIPD certification.  Explore our HR courses and enrol today!