It's not your typical huff-and-puff, gym-shorts and yoga-gear workout. But businesses wanting their employees to get —and stay— in great personal and professional shape are increasingly turning to “coaching gym” programs, a recent addition to the suite of services offered by certified business coaches.

Employees who join a coaching gym are more likely to lift a telephone handset than lift weights. But some aspects of a typical gym membership do apply. Monthly fees usually provide unlimited access to services. Professional staff help participants set goals, remain motivated, problem-solve and practice new skills. A range of choices are available from which participants can build a customized program. And pretty much anyone can afford to join.

Our coaching gym program has appeal to corporations that wish to expand the number of employees eligible for coaching support. While Executive Coaching is generally too expensive to offer to middle and entry level employees, these employees have a huge impact on the day-to-day operation of any business and they may someday join your leadership team. Coaching gym programs allow a company to include a more diverse group in the typically elite circle of those who can benefit from coaching. Executive coaches and those who have participated in Sage Portfolio Group's leadership or team development training also find coaching gyms an effective way to refine and practice their new-found skills.

Research confirms that training, followed up with coaching, is much more effective than training alone. A 1997 study by Olivero, Bane and Kopelmann concluded that a three-day interactive training program on management competencies followed by eight weeks of follow-up coaching increased productivity by an astonishing 88%. It concluded that training alone increased productivity by 22.4%.

Sage Portfolio Group's coaching gym clients are invited to phone their coach anytime during daily “gym hours,” but for those who prefer the predictability of a scheduled session, pre-booked sessions are welcomed. Coaching gym calls generally last between ten and twenty minutes. To maximize efficiency and outcomes, a technique called laser coaching is used to help the client precisely identify the challenge or opportunity and quickly move to next steps or actions.

In order to make coaching gym programs sustainable, an employer must be convinced that the coaching is making a concrete difference in employee morale, retention, and productivity. Sage Portfolio Group coaches, ensure that coaching sessions support the norms and culture of the specific organization and make a concrete difference in employee morale, retention, and productivity. Personal growth for the employee is reflected in enhanced professional performance.