SUMMARY

Undertaking coaching enables highly technical subject matter experts significantly increase their influence and impact and get to the next level of expertise. Using Expertship Institute accredited coaches ensures SMEs get the best coaching from the most informed and capable Expertship coaches.

BENEFITS

Subject matter experts operate in complex knowledge domains and complex organisational environments. Typically, you will be involved in multiple projects working for multiple managers and stakeholders, have too much to do and not enough time, and will struggle to juggle all of the responsibilities you are given because you are a high performer.

Tackling all of these challenges on your own is ineffective – which is where coaching comes in. Working with a properly qualified Expertship coach, you can:

• Identity barriers to your adding more value to your organisation.

• Enhance working relationships with key stakeholders.

• More effectively manage priorities, making sure you are spending the right time on the right work for the right reasons.

• Improve your executive presence, presentation skills, and overall influencing impact.

• Develop key coaching and mentoring skills that allows you to build the capability of junior colleagues, giving you space to work on more strategic projects.

These outcomes are regularly achieved by SMEs in our coaching programs around the world.

Most senior leaders have coaches to act as great sounding boards, and help them work through options and make good decisions. By proving coaching for subject matter experts, we are affording the same support to mission critical experts like you.

HOW IT WORKS

The Expertship Institute has a standard process that is adopted by all our delivery partners around the world that focuses on making sure the coaching is highly effective and impactful for you, the subject matter expert.

The simple four-step process works like this:

Step 1 – Partner & Package. You indicate your interest in coaching to the Institute, and we pair you with the relevant delivery partner in your time zone. You agree with this partner the coaching package you are considering (there are several to choose from) and receive a quote that you agree.

Step 2 – Coach profiles. Our delivery partner will send you a short list – usually three – coach profiles for you to consider.

Step 3 - Chemistry “coffee”. Conducted virtually. You select a coach you believe you would like to work with, and we organise a virtual teams or Zoom meeting between you and the coach. This lasts 30 minutes. During the meeting you get to know your coach and talk about your objectives. After the chemistry coffee you let us know if the coach is a good fit, and the coaching sessions begin. If you felt it the coach was not a good fit, you can choose to have a chemistry coffee with another coach. After two such chemistry coffees, should you need meeting with additional coaches, you have to pay. But the first two chemistry coffees are free.

Step 4 – Coaching sessions begin.

Optional Step 5 - Data capture. Coaches, like experts, like to work in an evidence-based environment. So you coach is likely to suggest gathering data about how you are experienced as a colleague. There are a number of options for you to do this and you can discuss these with your coach and your manager.

This process has worked very effectively for many years and many thousands of subject matter experts.

All coaching is delivered virtually, although sometimes logistics allow for you to have face-to-face meetings with your coach.

WHY YOU NEED AN INSTITUTE ACCREDITED COACH

You’ll have seen in the previous section that we go to great lengths to make sure your coach is a good fit for you. But even before you get sent profiles, the Expertship Institute has fully accredited the coaches that you are offered.

This accreditation is an exacting process, ensuring that your coach is up to date with all the latest Expertship models and research, understands the complex environments in which subject matter experts work, and have demonstrated their proficiency as a Expertship coach.

When you get sent a coaching profile from our delivery partners, you’ll see they all have the Institute accreditation documented.

This ensures you get fully qualified and experienced Expertship coaches offered to you, ensure high quality coaching and outcomes.

FEEDBACK

Here are comments from experts who have been exposed to Expertship coaching.

• The Expertship coaching is highly useful and ensures that you actually implement some of the learnings.

• I found the coaching valuable. Being able to bounce real life situations was hugely beneficial, and I got great guidance.

• I found the coaching provided an opportunity for reflection and discussion of how best to apply the Expertship principles to my work.

• Coaching sessions were extremely useful. Allowed tailored advice following discussions of my needs and direction.

• I have found that the coaching has enabled me to reflect on my practice - at first, the emphasis on reflecting seemed strange to me, but having done so consistently with the support of my coach I have noticed a big improvement in my ‘work on’ areas towards my goal.

• I was able to choose a coach who had made a similar transition to me which was extremely helpful.

• The coaching was amazing. And my coach was an incredible coach.

• Coaching is great because we were able to adapt to my changing needs.

INVESTMENT

Coaching for subject matter experts is not as expensive as you might think and offers a great return on investment. If you contact us using the form below, we can share the various packages and costs with you, and you can choose a package that suits your budget.

Most of our experts get funding from their organisation for coaching. We’ve written an article about how to persuade your manager to fund your coaching here.

More experts we work with have a huge about of unfulfilled potential to make a real difference to their organisation, profession and community. Expertship coaches help you fulfil this potential.

Make a smart decision and explore your options today.