Coaching services

Supported by an internal Coach Network and external coaches, the Coaching Services team delivers a range of services that support leadership development and systemic change.

On this page

• What is coaching?
• What coaching is not
• Benefits of coaching
• Available services
• About Coaching Services
• Request coaching services

What is coaching?

Coaching in the workplace refers to a development-focused relationship between a coach (or supervisor) and an employee. This relationship is aimed at identifying strengths, areas for development and supporting leadership development and career growth.

Coaching emphasizes setting and achieving goals that help employees to tackle day-to-day challenges, solve problems, build confidence and take action. It involves asking thoughtful questions that encourage employees to reflect and see issues more clearly, discover new insights and develop new perspectives that are relevant and meaningful to their work.

Coaching others requires adopting a specific mindset and skillset that strengthens leadership capabilities, interpersonal skills and capacity to understand challenges. This leads to making better choices and greater influence, understanding and empathy towards others. The process of coaching unlocks new creativity, productivity and leadership potential.

As more people use a coaching approach, there are broader impacts on services and organizational culture. Coaching helps create a culture where people listen, show care and compassion, stay open to other perspectives and possibilities and perform at a higher level.

What coaching is not

Coaching is not the same as teaching or training. Teaching typically follows a set curriculum and specific learning goals set by the instructor. Coaching is more flexible, with goals set by the individual being coached and guided by the coach. Coaching is less linear and does not follow a fixed curriculum.

Coaching is not synonymous with mentoring. Mentoring involves sharing personal experience and expertise in a particular field. While coaching may occasionally involve mentoring, coaches generally do not act as mentors. A mentor is an expert offering advice, while in coaching the client is seen as the expert in their own life.

Coaching is not a replacement for counselling. Counselling focuses on improving emotional and psychological well-being, helping people address current life challenges. Coaching promotes emotional growth while focusing on creating actionable strategies for achieving specific goals. Coaching is future-focused, emphasizing action, accountability and follow-through.

For counselling support, Employee and Family Assistance Services includes a range of services provided by the Public Service Agency through a contract with TELUS Health (formerly LifeWorks). The services provided are confidential, free of charge and available to all BC Public Service employees and family members who reside with them.

Coaching isn’t a replacement for personal stress management. Stress management involves using techniques and strategies to control stress levels, aiming to improve mental and physical well-being. This includes practices like relaxation exercises and healthy lifestyle choices to reduce the negative impacts of stress.

To find the support you need, please refer to Employee and Family Assistance Services.

Benefits of coaching

There are many benefits to using coaching services and training leaders to use a coaching approach, including:    

• Increased employee engagement and improved performance
• Strengthened leadership, communication and interpersonal skills
• Accelerated development of leaders and high potential employees
• Support for succession planning and organizational change
• Fostering a culture of psychological safety and innovation

Available services

Coaching Services offers a range of services to assist you, your team, or your organization:

• Leadership coaching: Partner with a coach to accelerate your leadership development and increase your confidence and competence in managing day-to-day challenges and opportunities
• Organizational coaching: Partner with an organizational coaching consultant to add coaching to existing HR programs and achieve your strategic objectives, enhance leadership capability and create cultural change
• Indigenous coaching: This program partners current and aspiring Indigenous leaders with Indigenous coaches who provide confidential, culturally appropriate one-on-one coaching
• ​Coaching skills training: Take your coaching skills to the next level by registering for coaching services training courses available through the LearningHub. Use the word ‘coaching’ to search for available courses

Coaching Services does not provide coaching or advice on interview preparation, such as mock interviews or preparation of behavioural competency examples for specific job opportunities. However, our coaches can help you identify your career goals and create an action plan by looking at your leadership strengths and interests. 

About Coaching Services

The Coaching Services team is a group of certified coaches and dedicated HR professionals with significant experience coaching and training leaders in the BC Public Service.

The Coaching Services team manages and supports the Coach Network by providing training, advice, coach mentoring and coach supervision.

The Coach Network is a group of employees from across the BC Public Service who are committed to providing high quality coaching services to other employees, as part of, or in addition to their regular job responsibilities.

Learn more about the Coach Network and how to join the Network.

Coaching Services also collaborates with ministries and individuals leading the way in advocating for and modeling coaching practices across the BC Public Service. The Coaching Services team is eager to partner with these forward-thinking organizations and individuals to support and acknowledge the valuable work being done.

Request coaching services

To request support from Coaching Services or to learn more about our services, submit an AskMyHR (IDIR restricted) service request:

• Select Myself > Career Development > Leadership Coaching Services
• Note any special considerations that would assist in processing your request

If you're a B.C. Government employee without an IDIR, call the BC Public Service Agency at 1-877-277-0772 (toll free) to submit your service request.