Michelle Senanayake, the Group Chief People and Corporate Communications Officer of Sunshine Holdings PLC believes that effective coaching is rooted in clarity, trust, self-awareness, accountability, a growth mindset, and ongoing learning. In her interview, she discusses the power of coaching to arm individuals and teams with the necessary skills and mindset to embrace innovation, productivity, and sustainable growth, paving the way for a brighter, more prosperous future for everyone.
How do you see the evolution and acceptance of coaching as a recognized profession in Sri Lanka, and how is the ICF Sri Lanka chapter contributing to this?
In recent years, coaching has gained wider acceptance as a reputable profession in Sri Lanka, mirroring global trends emphasizing personal and professional growth. This shift is due to factors like evolving leadership roles, societal changes, acknowledgement of coaching benefits, and significant contributions from the International Coach Federation (ICF) Sri Lanka chapter.
The ICF Sri Lanka chapter recognized globally for upholding high coaching standards, plays a central role in promoting the profession locally. It provides training aligned with international competencies, producing a cadre of qualified coaches to meet the country’s needs. By championing high ethical and professional standards, ICF Sri Lanka ensures quality services, bolstering trust among clients and organizations.
Furthermore, the chapter has fostered a robust coaching community in Sri Lanka, facilitating knowledge exchange, collaboration, and ongoing learning. Through various events like workshops and seminars, it has been instrumental in enhancing public awareness of the coaching industry.
In your experience, what factors make coaching a transformative process?
Coaching is a powerful tool for leaders to facilitate transformative change. My conversations often centre on career advancement, role readiness, and performance management. While many have the requisite technical skills, they grapple with challenges like communication, leadership, and self-confidence which limit their professional growth.
In my experience the coaching process anchors around self-awareness and reflection which leads to defining areas of concern and setting specific, measurable goals. This provides a roadmap for the sessions that will follow. Clear action steps and regular check-ins ensure commitments are met and strategies are adjusted as necessary. Successful coaching hinges on the individual’s receptivity to feedback and seeing setbacks as learning opportunities thus having a growth mindset. The fact that the coaching process is not just a brief intervention and that it is a catalyst for ongoing growth truly makes coaching transformative.
As a seasoned coach, what unique value do you believe you bring to the table in supporting the professional growth of your mentees?
I have over 28 years of experience in the corporate environment, and I have spent many years developing individuals to reach their full potential. Many of them hold very senior positions in organizations therefore I feel that my diverse coaching history across different industries equips me with insights to guide mentees through intricate professional scenarios.
My approach to people development has been based on a combination of art and science recognizing individual uniqueness, I adjust and tailor my approach to address each mentee’s distinct goals, ensuring relevancy and impact. As a coach, I think that it is very important to build trust and have the ability to listen to what’s being said as well as the underlying messages. This enables the setting of clear goals, which in turn drives commitment and accountability. Naturally, when there is accountability there will always be continuous improvement on the part of the coachee.
My ultimate objective is to foster mentees’ professional achievements, with the coaching journey anchored in trust, responsibility, and unwavering growth—guided by premier coaching principles.
The world is rapidly evolving with new trends and knowledge emerging daily. How do you integrate these global advancements to shape a brighter future for teams, organizations, and the country as a whole?
In today’s fast-paced and ever-changing world, staying current with global advancements is crucial for shaping a brighter future for teams, organizations, and the country as a whole. As a professional dedicated to personal and professional development, I take a proactive approach to integrating these advancements into my coaching approach. I recognize that learning is a lifelong journey and ensure that I engage in continuous learning. I emphasize agility and adaptability as a core skills in my coaching and training programs. Leadership development prepares individuals to lead in an ever-evolving world. This includes coaching leaders to be agile, visionary, and capable of guiding their teams through change and uncertainty.
By integrating these global advancements into my coaching and training practices, I aim to contribute to a brighter future for teams, organizations, and the country as a whole. I believe that by equipping individuals and teams with the skills, mindset, and knowledge to thrive in a rapidly evolving world, we can collectively drive innovation, productivity, and sustainable growth, ultimately shaping a more prosperous future for all.