Connex Alumni

Beyond The Classroom: What Coaching Can Do

How often do you learn something you believe in, but then instead of implementing it you put the new information on a shelf? Perhaps your boss had no expectations that you would use the new information, and before you know it, much of what you learned is forgotten. And it isn’t because people aren’t motivated to apply what they’ve learned. It’s just that the work environment isn’t set up to allow each person to make needed changes when he or she returns after a learning activity. In fact, there are factors in the work environment that actually discourage the person from changing at all. Focused and planned coaching has the potential to change all that.

Coaching is a process that creates a bridge between knowledge and action and it’s action that gets results and adds to the bottom line.

Dan DeLapp learned years ago that one-on-one or small group coaching was the way to accelerate learning and application. He’s made this his mission, both corporately and in his consulting practice. “It was a phenomenon I witnessed over and over during my years working. I’d finish teaching a class and a few participants would call or stop by with questions about how to apply what they just learned. By working with them individually, i.e. coaching, I saw the learning power in helping people apply new information. They were able to achieve positive results much sooner than if they had tried on their own and failed,” explains Dan.

According to Ralph Hall of Columbia Software, “Dan has challenged my thinking and provided a solid perspective that I feel like I can rely on. Dan's years of experience has given him a solid understanding of business principles. I recommend Dan for any coaching or organizational development opportunity.”

In his consulting practice, Dan focuses primarily on coaching leaders but also coaches individual contributors as well as small work groups. “And the coaching activity doesn’t always come at the end of training. Other main entry points for me are when a problem occurs, when a leader is on a developmental track for higher assignments or when a group is forming or just plain stuck.” Some of the typical issues that leaders have are building and maintaining productive relationships, strategic thinking, decision making, risk taking, resolving conflict, leading groups and leading change.

If you want to find out more about how you can develop and grow in your present role or prepare for a future opportunity, call Dan to find out more about the coaching process and how he might help you. He can be reached at This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it or 360-571-7617. Also visit his website.