Peer Coaching

Peer coaching (noun): a collaborative process in which employees work together to identify areas for improvement and develop strategies to address them.

This method of professional development features a two-way relationship, wherein both parties learn from each other. The participants are peers, which usually means they're colleagues working in similar fields and at the same level in an organization. They meet regularly to exchange ideas, share work-related challenges, develop action plans, and discuss progress. They also hold each other accountable for meeting goals. 

Effective peer coaches do not presume to be able to solve problems for one another.

The peer coaching program we offer is designed to give employees the tools and practices they require to uncover self-limiting beliefs or assumptions that impede making progress towards performance and development goals. The peer coaches continue to support one another as strategies for eliminating these hidden barriers are revealed.

Rather, they listen and respond to one another in ways that accelerate professional development through self-discovery – with curiosity and without criticism. They do this by encouraging one another to take in multiple perspectives and take time to reflect on them, something that is often missing in today’s tightly scheduled workplaces.

Today’s workplaces are fraught with anxiety-provoking complexities (e.g., global health emergencies, economic volatility, talent gaps, labor shortages, and continuing supply chain disruptions).

Peer coaching provides a safe space where these anxieties can be disclosed, explored, and possibly even transformed in ways that increase feelings of self-worth and a sense of belongingness.

Consequently, an abundance of internal struggles may diminish employee confidence, impeding their performance and/or impacting their mental and emotional health. Employees may fear the implications of not being heard, offending others, damaging their reputation, or being labeled as incompetent.

Jessica White
Director of Operations, Big Steps Little Feet

“Barbara provided an environment that opened a door for me to a newfound professional direction. It immediately resulted in a sense of relief! This, coupled with Barbara’s approach to peer coaching, has given me authentic relationships and meaningful feedback, supporting my efforts to establish a clear path forward. I am grateful.”

How it Works

The program is a proven “learn by doing” method. We make it available in two different formats.

The first offers only coaching-related group learning activities; these are interspersed with one-on-one practice sessions. The group sessions are where fundamental coaching competencies are reviewed: empathetic listening and responding, probing questions that elicit meaningful responses, eliminating hidden judgments, recognizing and honoring boundaries.  The practice sessions offer opportunities to practice applying these elements.

In the second, peer coaching is one of many instructional design methodologies used in delivering a professional development curriculum. In these situations, the use of peer coaching skills intentionally undergirds other instructional techniques such as role playing, breakout group activities, case studies, and participant presentations.

What is the impact?

Peer coaching initiatives take the burden off individual leaders who assume they are the only ones who can coach their employees.

Many leaders simply do not have the bandwidth to do so. Alternatively, peer coaches can be trained and invited to share that burden in ways that may have far-reaching impact.

Once employees have gone through the program, they typically find themselves using their enhanced listening and responding capabilities in other business-related interactions, such as team meetings, performance management discussions, as well as with customers, suppliers, and/or other stakeholder groups

This can lead to a significant reduction in misunderstandings or disruptive, exaggerated emotional reactions. The result is improvement in employee morale, an increase in effective collaboration, and a learning culture imbued with transparency and trust!

Participant Benefits

  • Peer coaching helps team members build trust by developing meaningful mutual relationships. These relationships can increase collaboration and creativity. Individual and team effectiveness is enhanced because participants more fully understand and respect one another’s strengths and challenges.

  • In work environments where everyone is ‘busy’ it can be difficult to receive feedback on a timely basis. A peer-to-peer coaching relationship establishes a structure within which feedback is not only welcomed, but sought after.

    When faced with a challenging situation, employees can work through their anxieties with a peer coach sooner than later.

    Not only does this interrupt the negative impact of an employee who tends to ruminate for too long, it also leads to resolution of the issue more rapidly.

  • Peer coaching builds skills that are at the foundation of effective communication and relationship-building in any profession that requires collaboration.

    It also helps employees cope with stress, misunderstandings, and conflict-laden situations both personally and professionally.

Jenine Torres
Development Officer, Grand Rapids Community Foundation

“Barbara fosters the space needed for leaders of all levels to feel safe when being vulnerable in peer settings. Experiencing peer coaching can be uncomfortable, but impactful. Thanks to Barbara I have gained great insights and learned more about sharing constructive feedback.”

Employer Benefits

The most significant benefit to employers is the economy of scale.

A minimal financial investment can provide multiple levels in the organization with easy access to coaching.  The peer coaches acquire a level of competence that enables them to be effective people managers throughout their careers.

Also, the time required for training and mentoring individuals who are promoted into management positions is significantly reduced.

Employers who benefit the most are those who value collaboration.

They commonly observe an increase in their: emotional intelligence, trust among employees, capacity to manage conflicts, and confidence when working with others to resolve critical business issues.

Dilli Gautam
Associate Director of Community Engagement, Bethany Christian Services

“Creating a space where professionals can give, and positively receive, feedback can be challenging. However, the sessions facilitated by Barbara were always safe, judgment-free, and without malice. This was especially important when people from different professions were provided with suggestions for professional growth and guidance on how to become better leaders. And, due to the element of peer coaching, the bond that was created amongst the cohort didn’t end with the end of the program. It served as a strong foundation for years of continued safe and judgment-free support for each other.”

Connor Dugan
Senior Counsel, Warner Norcross + Judd

“I worked with Barbara in a 15-week Peer Coaching Program in 2022.  At the beginning of the Program, Barbara told us two things: 1) we had barriers to success that we couldn’t yet see; and 2) the answers to any barriers and issues were in the room.  After going through the Program, all I can say is that her words were so true.  I watched as leadership challenges that I hadn’t recognized in myself bubbled up to the surface.  But then things got interesting!  My peers helped me tackle these challenges and find solutions.  And I likewise helped them tackle their challenges.  What was apparent is that my peers gave me perspectives that I never would have attained alone.  They also saw gifts in me that perhaps I was unable to see because of my focus on the negatives.  The experience was transformative for me and my cohort.  We gained confidence, insights, and new friends.  I truly believe in this experience and can say that I grew in confidence and interior understanding.”

Ready to meet?

We’ve successfully walked alongside many who initially were skeptical about the value of Peer Coaching.

Regardless of where you, or you and your team are currently, we’d be happy to connect with you! Let’s have a conversation about how a standard or customized Peer Coaching program can accelerate talent development in your organization.