Embedding coaching in Legal & General’s talent development programme has improved retention, employee engagement and performance.
Legal & General created the Step Forward programme in response to a perceived lack of development opportunities for staff at lower grades.
The programme, which focuses on supporting a coaching culture, has become embedded in the organisation and is now oversubscribed. Managers at all levels are involved as either mentors, coaches, project buddies, delivering parts of the programme or through encouraging their own team members to sign up.
Staff retention and promotion of attendees have also increased and the programme is contributing to a significant shift in the learning and development culture. Since 2014 more than 80% of graduates have progressed in their careers, with over 50% being promoted into a team manager role.
Gary Shewan, learning & development consultant at the financial services giant, said: “Involving managers at all levels to support the programme has meant that learning and development is very much in line with business needs, resulting in a step change in how learning and development is perceived across the organisation, with staff recognising the need for continual learning – which is so important if individuals, teams and the company as a whole is to keep up with the pace of change.”
He said “a measurable improvement to performance” could be seen “as delegates are able to implement projects worked on during the programme to deliver customer benefits and business efficiencies”.
Legal & General was one of a handful of case studies featured in research by City & Guilds Group into professionals’ thoughts and experiences of coaching (see ‘UK professionals: coaching is ‘critical’ to success’).