Gemma Jones, an accomplished improvement coach and trainer, discusses the journey of overcoming obstacles in personal and professional growth. She highlights common challenges and shares insights on the transformative power of coaching. Using golf as a metaphor, she emphasizes clarity in addressing true barriers and introduces practical strategies like an 'obstacle parking lot'. Gemma also underscores the importance of building trust in coaching relationships, particularly in high-pressure environments like healthcare, fostering growth through supportive connections.
Identifying specific obstacles is crucial for effective improvement, as it allows teams to focus on genuine challenges rather than minor distractions.
Building trust and strong relationships in coaching fosters a supportive environment where individuals can openly explore and address their most significant barriers.
Deep dives
Understanding Obstacles in Improvement Processes
Obstacles refer to the barriers that prevent individuals or teams from reaching their target conditions or goals. In the context of improvement processes, these obstacles can vary significantly in size and impact, from major impediments to smaller distractions. A key point discussed is the need for specificity in identifying these obstacles to effectively navigate the improvement journey. Focusing on what truly stands in the way of achieving goals rather than addressing less relevant issues is crucial for success.
The Dangers of Low-Hanging Fruit
The pursuit of low-hanging fruit, or easily solvable problems, can lead teams away from addressing the most significant obstacles they face. Often, organizations may get distracted by simpler tasks while neglecting the larger, more impactful issues that truly hinder progress. This philosophy can waste time and resources, preventing meaningful improvement. It is essential to prioritize obstacles that directly correlate with achieving key objectives instead of just making easy, superficial fixes.
Articulating Obstacles Effectively
To improve clarity and focus, it is essential to articulate obstacles using a structured approach, incorporating what the problem is, why it matters, and the impact it has on current goals. This three-part structure allows individuals to distinguish between genuine obstacles and less relevant concerns. By clearly stating the impact that a specific issue has on achieving a target condition, teams can redirect their efforts toward overcoming real barriers. This method encourages individuals to deeply understand the underlying challenges they face.
Building Trust for Effective Coaching
Trust and relationship-building are essential components of effective coaching, especially when addressing obstacles in improvement initiatives. Coaches must take the time to connect with learners, showing empathy and understanding to create an environment where individuals feel safe to share their thoughts and challenges. This trust fosters a deeper exploration of obstacles and encourages learners to reflect critically on their own processes. By reinforcing strong connections, coaches can guide individuals toward identifying and addressing the most relevant barriers to their success.
Gemma started her career studying Mechanical Engineering at Cardiff University. She quickly discovered the world of Continuous Improvement and spent 20 years working to improve processes and systems within various manufacturing industries including Automotive, Pharmaceutical, Dairy, Cosmetics & Toiletries, Food, and Medical Devices. She has been a CI Manager numerous times and an Operations Manager running a factory of over 500 people.
Gemma is hugely passionate about Improvement and developing people and processes. She gets such a kick out of coaching and facilitating, especially when she sees the lightbulb switch on in someone's head – when they solve a problem; when they realize they have the power to change; or when they get excited about all the improvements they could make.
In 2019, Gemma left the world of employment to establish her own business, SPARK Improvement, aiming to switch on as many lightbulbs as possible. Her mission is to help organizations and individuals be the BEST they can be, by helping people SEE, helping people THINK, and helping people CHANGE.
Gemma is based in Cheshire in the UK, working globally.