Why have coaching and mentoring become so popular?
The business environment is continually evolving and there has been a marked change in the structure of organisations. In those that have downsized or with flatter structures, individuals often have far broader responsibilities and need to be more flexible. There is a greater emphasis on individuals taking responsibility for their own development. There is also the need for just in time personalised development, meaning coaching and mentoring can be effective interventions. There is also the need for measurement and return on investment for all organisational activities, including training and development. Poor managerial performance affects the bottom line so it is in the interests of organisations to develop their management team in a personalised way. Research by Olivero, Bane and Kopelman (United Kingdom) examined the effects of training and coaching in a public sector organisation. Several managers underwent a management training programme which was followed by eight weeks of one-
