In this piece I want to widen the horizons a little and look at ways of ensuring that coaching becomes an integral part of people management and development in all organisations. Firstly let's examine the obvious rationale for taking up the coaching approach.
"We are constantly having to cope with change."
At one time we could expect to leave school, college or university with an education that would last our working life. We could enter the workplace and refine and develop this knowledge and, as we moved up the ladder and into supervisory or managerial positions, we could impart our knowledge and expertise and share our wisdom with those who would eventually replace us. Knowledge was power and commanded respect. Managers would be proudly say 'I wouldn't ask anybody to do anything I'm not able to do myself'
This position is no longer sustainable. Some have suggested that the body of knowledge we have when we leave the education sector is completely useless and out of date inside three years. Managers cannot hope to keep pace with the ins and outs of all the jobs performed by their teams because it would be like trying to push water up a hill - impossible.
Coaching, with its emphasis on drawing out rather than putting in, emerges as the only way of leading and developing people in our increasingly dynamic and fluid workplaces.
"We work in flatter structures."
During the 1980s and 1990s increasing competition and developments in technology, amongst other things, meant that many organisations underwent some kind of 'downsizing'. More often than not this meant losing large numbers of so called middle managers and resulted in the managers left behind having to find ways of achieving more results with fewer resources.
Where before organisations would have carried some slack there was now a need to be focused and precise in all areas of operations. Hierarchal reporting lines were abandoned in favour of matrix management which meant that people could expect to report to two or three 'bosses' depending on the projects they were working on. Technology took care of more of the routine tasks meaning people were free to work on business development in project teams with a high need for creative thinking.
This is still very much the case today, and will be even more so in the future. Against this background, managers cannot hope to lead and develop their teams by being the font of all knowledge and simply passing down the orders. We need ways to help people access their flair and creativity instead. We need new ways tof making people feel resourceful and empowered and motivated to achieve. Coaching offers a practical way of achieving these aims.
"People are the only true competitive advantage."
If we get a new IT system or piece of plant our competitors can get the same by the following week.
We might secure a large amount of capital investment or funding but there would be nothing to stop our competitors doing the same.
Any organisation, however sophisticated, is ultimately a collection of people. It follows that if we want to improve business performance, then we must always look to improve the performance of individuals and teams, as this is where the potential for improvement lies.
The frustration comes from hearing senior managers cry "We've got to get the best out of people", then watching as they do the exact opposite and spend a fortune on various ways of stuffing the best in to people. Coaching provides the antidote to this approach.
"People expect to de developed."
The essential 'deal' of working for an organisation has irreversibly changed. Where once we could expect security and a job for life in return for our valiant efforts at work, now we cannot expect to remain in a job for life whatever our level of performance.
The new 'deal' is that in return for our work and endeavours we expect to grow and be developed so that we might move on to bigger and better things and perhaps move to a different organisation. People now talk of CV Building and Employability as being crucial areas to consider.
Coaching can deliver on these expectations and it can do so quickly. It can help organisations provide the development that people expect without the huge investment required for complex training programmes.
These days, with the advancements in technology, more and more people are buying cameras. It's very easy to own one because of the improvements in ease of use and maintenance. We don't have to buy rolls of film just to use a camera. It's also easier to take great pictures, because we can preview the image that's going to be taken and if it's not up to standard, it can be deleted in just a press of a button. No film is wasted, and the photos come out as we want them.
It's normal practice to bring a camera everyday, especially those that are compact and lightweight. This is so that every important moment is captured and thus, preserved throughout time. With this in mind, more and more people are getting interested in photography and enjoying it. Even non-professional photographers can take very good pictures, and there shouldn't be any surprise if there are more people who join photography contests, whether it's for the prize, the recognition, or just for fun.
If you're one of the many people who enjoy photography, and someday you hope to enter and win a contest, here are some photography contest tips and advice:
Follow all the rules of the contest There is always a different set of rules for every contest, and you should be aware of them first and foremost. Familiarize yourself with them and follow them to the letter. You might not understand why some rules are there, but don't assume you can just disregard them. They are there for a reason. It's better to follow the rules rather than have your work returned to you because you did not follow the rules.
Research on past entries Researching on past winning entries will help you learn more about the contest that you want to join and its standards. If you know more about the standards and the judges' basis for a good photograph, you'll have a better edge against the other contestants. You also might get inspired from studying the past entries.
Study the categories There are different categories in every contest, and you must consider the requirements of each category before submitting an entry under the category that you've chosen. Your photograph should be focused on the category's topic. Many entries get disqualified for not following the requirements, and it's sad because the photographer may be talented, but the entry is not even seen by the judges because of a technicality. For example, there are categories that might require your picture to have a few items at the background of the photograph's main focus. One missing item may hurt your chances in the contest.
Consider your work with a critical eye You might have a photograph that you're really fond of. You might even consider it as your best, because of its meaning to you. Remember, your contest entry will be judged by many different people who are strangers to you. They don't know the story and circumstances behind your favorite work, and they don't care. They are also given a set of guidelines in choosing entries, and each of them has unique standards. If you want a good chance of winning, better submit photographs that are good on all technical factors. For your entry to stand out, your subject should be doing some actions. A subject that is doing something is more noticeable and has more depth compared to a subject that is on a pose.
Send only your best work There are contests that allow multiple entries, and if you plan on submitting more than one entry per category, it's better to submit just a few of your best work, rather than submit a lot of entries that include a few decent, but lackluster, photographs. This is to protect how the judges think of your best photograph. If you include a few second-rate photographs, chances are the judges' opinion on those photographs might dampen their opinion on your best entry. Instead of your best photograph standing out, it might get buried under the mediocre ones.
It's easier now to take pictures, and it's even easier to prepare for a contest if you only study how. Apply these photography contest tips and advice, and improve your chances of winning a photography contest.
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Both Matt Somers & David Cross are contributors for EditorialToday. The above articles have been edited for relevancy and timeliness. All write-ups, reviews, tips and guides published by EditorialToday.com and its partners or affiliates are for informational purposes only. They should not be used for any legal or any other type of advice. We do not endorse any author, contributor, writer or article posted by our team.
Matt Somers has sinced written about articles on various topics from Power of Coaching, Career Change and Depression Cure. Matt Somers offers managers a startling way to achieve results through coaching via his range of training programmes, books, articles and seminars. His popular guide "Coaching for an Easier Life" is available FREE at. Matt Somers's top article generates over 8100 views. to your Favourites.
David Cross has sinced written about articles on various topics from Acid Reflux, Hair Care and Interest. David Cross is a Photographer who runs the site:, where he also posts regulary about kirlian photography www.hobbyphotographyt. David Cross's top article generates over 165000 views. to your Favourites.