Screwfix–coaching area managers to make them more aware of strategic issues.

Our coaches helped Screwfix key area managers think more strategically as the company expanded.

The brief

When Screwfix decided to open 50 new branches in a year, the building supplies company identified a need to strengthen the skills of 12 key area managers. Bray Leino BroadSkill was brought in to help the managers become more strategic in their approach.

The challenges

Because of the busy workload involved in opening so many new branches, Screwfix couldn’t justify taking the managers off the job in order to focus on training and development.

The solution

After looking at a variety of different solutions to meet the development requirements and taking operational challenges into consideration, Screwfix opted for ‘on-the-job coaching’.

The execution

First, managers were invited to complete the Myers Briggs Type Indicator assessment, a powerful psychometric instrument that increases awareness of why people work and communicate they way they do. A personal coach then provided a report with individual feedback for each manager. In addition, the coaches have been shadowing the area managers in their day-to-day work, providing on-the-job coaching to achieve the agreed learning outcomes, and providing telephone and email coaching support.

The verdict

This work is ongoing. However, the feedback from the operations director and human resources manager has been very positive. They are pleased with improvements in the area managers’ performance and approach to work.

• Screwfix urgently needed to enhance the strategic skills of 12 key area managers
• The area managers needed a training programme that didn’t take them away from their day-to-day duties
• Each manager completed a Myers Briggs Type Indicator psychometric assessment