Having travelled to India three times in the last 10 months, my fascination with the country has only deepened. I'm drawn to its culture, history and diversity – not to mention the amazing food! But what I have found most intriguing is the people, and their optimism and sincere belief in a positive future for India. Speaking to young people in India I am often pleasantly surprised to find they have a clear plan and direction for their lives rarely articulated by Australian youth.
Hunger to learn and willingness to change
As a coach, I know I can achieve the best possible outcomes when my clients have a hunger to learn and willingness to change. This is exactly what I have found working in corporate coaching in India. The country is rapidly expanding into the global economy, and the corporate culture is ripe for transformation.
Historically, the 'command and control' model has been prevalent in Indian workplaces. In its simplest perspective, when labour is cheap, you can afford to have people waiting to be told what to do. Now, the expectations of a growing middle class workforce are evolving. As in other knowledge worker economies, employees are looking for jobs that provide high levels of personal satisfaction, opportunities for growth and a sense of working together towards a common goal – not just a pay cheque at the end of the week.
This in turn drives the need for leadership and corporate culture development, to provide an environment in which employees and the company can flourish.
Harnessing the power of coaching
Corporate coaching is well positioned to deliver the change India is looking for – providing the expertise and support needed to implement corporate change initiatives, and to inspire behavioural shifts. In 2008, the International Coach Federation (ICF) awarded its first Associate Certified Coach (ACC) accreditation to a coach in India. Less than 12 months later, there are nine ACCs and the ICF membership is approaching 200.
Last month, about 170 coaches joined together for the first ICF conference in Bangalore. Coaching is certainly set to take off in India, as its people seize every opportunity to grow for themselves and their country. 
Tony Draper is an ICF Professional Certified Coach. He is also the Founder and Principal Coach of DraperCo Collaborative Coaching Company. His passion is working with clients to develop the potential within their organisations and increase performance. He uses leadership and coaching models, along with solid business acumen, to support clients in reaching sustainable solutions. Contact Tony on (07) 3856 5112.
Top image by pulguita
Related posts:
