Executives propelled to peak performance with piste philisiphy

Ski and sports coaching techniques that generate peak performance in athletes are being used successfully by Orgtopia (www.orgtopia.com), a management and leadership development consultancy, in its executive coaching and management development training. Thanks to Orgtopia's 'In the Zone' technique, executives can gain a boost in the workplace rather than on the slopes.

This approach may sound unusual but it's based on the long-standing experience of Orgtopia's founder and managing director, David Hinde. When he's not training senior personnel, David works as a qualified ski instructor in the Italian Alps and at the new Snowdome at Hemel Ski Centre, Hemel Hempstead, and Orgtopia is using techniques from this alternative role in its coaching for senior managers and directors.

The new approach, which completed a trial in January, is enabling performance improvements in areas ranging from personnel management and motivational techniques to team building, project management, leadership and communication skills. Called In the Zone this approach will complement Orgtopia's existing range of coaching and training services.

David Hinde, who started working as a skiing instructor in 2003, points out that many lessons from ski and sports coaching can be applied directly to the business world for developing executive performance.

He says: We're not taking the piste! I've always been struck by the similarities between coaching people to ski better and executives to perform better. In both, in order to develop our technique, we have to get out of our comfort zones, become more self-aware and overcome our negative beliefs. For example, it's easy to fool ourselves about the way we are skiing. One basic thing to watch out for is not to lean back - otherwise it's hard to control the skis. The coach can insist that a beginner is leaning back but often they won't believe you! However, if you video them and show them evidence, suddenly the penny drops and they can start being more self aware and thus be more centred.

He adds: Exactly the same principle applies in business. If you're developing a director's presentation skills and they have a tendency to mumble, you can tell them what they're doing only for them to continually repeat the mistake. It's only when you record footage and play it back that they realise the full extent of the fault and change their performance.

As well as using video and audio playbacks, Orgtopia has adopted a range of techniques to develop executives' self-awareness on skills including leadership, managing teams, communicating through presentations, time management and project management. Orgtopia's qualified coaches meet individual clients or teams, help them understand their current behaviours and put into place realistic learning objectives.

David explains: As well as increased self-awareness, sports coaching bring us important lessons about adopting new methods. To improve at a sport, it's necessary to move your body in new and different ways, which feels odd and uncomfortable. When we feel uncomfortable, our general reaction is to return to our 'comfort zone', which means we're behaving as normal and haven't improved. Using certain techniques, we help people pass through this uncomfortable phase.

Again, it's the same in work. If you're used to managing a team in one way and then start implementing an entirely new approach, both you and your team will feel strange. Orgtopia's development process coaches people through this uncomfortable feeling and compels them to stick with a new approach until it starts to feel natural.

Dr Young, a consultant psychiatrist for the NHS, who came to Orgtopia to develop her leadership abilities, says: I found Mr Hinde's coaching sessions extremely helpful.... In the climate of the NHS where there is increasing emphasis on developing effective relationships between clinicians and managers, his style was conducive to building my confidence and tapping into knowledge and skills that I already had.