Coaching leaders came together recently to celebrate their coaching journey and give insights into how the process has impacted their engagement with colleagues  

Late last month, over 140 Tirlán employees gathered at the Lyrath Estate Hotel in Kilkenny to celebrate their commitment to coaching and hear from a panel of experts on why coaching is a lifelong journey. Tirlán employees, from across all areas of the business, shared their insights into the coaching process, what they have gained from it and how it’s contributing to their day to day working life.

Tirlán CEO Jim Bergin addresses the audience at the Coaching Conference in Kilkenny

Breda Fitzpatrick, HR Business Partner at Tirlán, embarked on her coaching journey in 2019. The event, she says, was a wonderful celebration of our coaching journey at Tirlán. The day itself was fantastic, energising and inspiring, allowing plenty of time to pause and reflect on how we’re turning up for ourselves and those around us.

The commitment to driving a coaching culture within all elements of the Tirlán business really shone through on the day. Throughout the event, delegates heard from a variety of speakers including Tirlán CEO Jim Bergin, who spoke very honestly about his own coaching journey and what it means for him personally. Psychologist Ian Robertson talked about the positive impact that self-care can have on an employee’s state of mind, while mental and emotional wellbeing advocate Jack Kavanagh also spoke at the event. “The standing ovation that he received at the end of his speech said it all. He spoke about the importance of creating an environment where people can learn and thrive. He also talked about how important it is to remember that you can’t do everything yourself. We all need people to lean on and to learn from and that’s a crucial aspect of coaching,” said Breda.

“The coaching journey at Tirlán has been incredible and continues to evolve. It excites me to see coaching conversations happening right across the organisation. For me, there has been a significant shift in mindset and culture moving from a command and control directive environment to a much more inclusive and collaborate one, where we communicate differently and are more aware and conscious of hearing all the voices in the room. As a HR Business Partner, I’m particularly passionate about talent development and engagement and coaching plays a pivotal role in helping people grow and develop. It drives employee engagement and helps build stronger connections and relationships. As a natural introvert and empath, I’m very much at ease in listening mode and I work really hard at building and strengthening relationships with everyone I work with. I’m delighted to see that people are actively listening more to understand rather than to respond.”

Coaching is a key enabler of bringing our new values to life at Tirlán. “I think coaching has really underlined those values and in particular our ethos – ‘to adapt to grow and empower to go’. We’re creating a workplace where people can make mistakes but also learn from those mistakes in a safe environment, which is key,” said Breda.

Catherine Kiernan, Quality Manager at Tirlán, has been on her coaching journey for just over two months. She agrees that Jack Kavanagh’s presentation was truly inspirational. “All the speakers were excellent, but you could hear a pin drop during Jack’s speech. It was very emotional and I think provided inspiration for everyone there.” Coaching has given Catherine a new perspective on how she interacts with colleagues. “I’ve learned that empowering people to find their own solutions to challenges is something that benefits everyone, including myself. Trust is also crucial; I want people to feel they can come and talk to me in a safe space, in confidence. My coaching journey has given me the tools I need to make that possible.”

Tirlán’s coaching initiative has taught delegates that listening to understand, as opposed to listening to respond, is the best way to engage with staff. With over 15 years’ experience in the food industry, Catherine believes Tirlán is setting a benchmark for how coaching is utilised in the workplace. “I haven’t seen any other organisation or company adopt coaching in the way Tirlán has. It’s pretty unique. Since completing the course, I’ve noticed that the way we communicate with each other has transformed. It’s such a positive change and I’m seeing first-hand how coaching is empowering people across the board at Tirlán.”