ROYAL COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS

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ROYAL COLLEGE OF GENERAL PRACTITIONERS North
of England Faculty Time Management From - Steve
Blades For General Practitioners, Allied Primary
Care Professionals, Nurses and Practice
Managers. Venue Collingwood College Durham
Dates Wednesday 5th September, 2007 Afternoon
session Wednesday 10th September, 2007 Evening
session
Coaching and General Practitioners

• Coaching is seen by many as the latest fad but
  what actually is it and when might a GP consider
  using it? There are many definitions of coaching
  but my preferred one is
• Unlocking a persons potential to maximise their
  own performance (Whitmore, 1996)
• Coach and client typically meet at monthly
  intervals for around ninety minutes and work
  using a number of important principles
• The client has the resources to resolve his or
  her issues and has not come to be fixed
• The coachs role is to unlock the clients
  resourcefulness and not to give advice
• Coaching addresses the whole person
• The client sets the agenda so learning is
  tailored to the individual unlike on a training
  course
• The focus is on change and action
• This latter point highlights the key difference
  between coaching and counselling which is in
  terms of the emphasis within coaching on what is
  to be done, when, by whom and how much will there
  is to do it.
• So isnt that just mentoring might be the next
  question. This is of course a more familiar
  concept for doctors and there are many
  similarities. Traditionally mentoring has been
  provided by a more experienced professional
  within the same organisation so it has tended to
  have connotations of the older and wiser mentor
  providing support and sometimes patronage to the
  less experienced mentee.

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• GPs may come across patients who have had
  coaching but when might they consider it for
  themselves? The following situations are based on
  my own experience of coaching GPs and other
  doctors.
• To help make life changes or decisions such as
  timing of retirement or whether to change job
• To regain work/life balance or make more
  efficient use of time
• To respond successfully to work or personal
  crises or to deal positively with change.
• To develop interpersonal or leadership skills.
  This may become more of an issue as we all have
  360 degree appraisal in preparation for
  revalidation and are seeking ways to address
  issues that this highlights such as poor
  delegation or abruptness with staff.
• To support doctors in leadership roles both
  within their practice or outside such as in PBC
  groups or on Professional Executive Committees.
• Many doctors will already be using coaching
  skills in a number of situations such as
  teaching, with staff and indeed in consultations
  where a coaching style can be used to support
  behavioural change. Based on the potential value
  within these settings many GPs might consider a
  short course to enhance their own coaching skills
  but might be more reluctant to consider coaching
  for themselves.
• Undoubtedly this is partly due to the time
  commitment and potential cost but it also seems
  to be due to ignorance as to what coaching is and
  a concern that having coaching is a sign of
  weakness. Hopefully this article has reduced some
  of the ignorance but what about any potential
  stigma? Perhaps this is best considered by
  contrasting medicine with other careers where
  having coaching is seen as a sign of status.
  Coaching is certainly not about weakness or
  failure. It is hard work for the client but has
  great potential for enhancing personal and career
  development.
• Steve Blades is a GP who has trained as an
  executive coach at practitioner level. He offers
  one to one coaching and also runs workshops on
  topics such as time management, delegation and
  chairing meetings.
• www.stevebladescoaching.co.uk
  steve_at_stevebladescoaching.co.uk
  07764196398

Please book early. Closing date for bookings 10
days before event. I wish to attend the Time
Management course in September / October.
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Spennymoor, Co Durham DL16 6YQ Tel [phone]