ABSTRACT
Senior managers that ask for coaching, at IKEA and in other organizations, are generally looking for a sounding board, seeking new perspectives on workplace challenges and support to drive both business and their own individual performance. In 2005, IKEA started using external coaches. The training provider had close cooperation with the coaching team at IKEA during the development of the training program. After the training, the coaches got mentor coaching and group supervision to get support in handling different types of cases and dilemmas and to develop further. IKEA has included coaching in a number of internal leadership programs. The coaching approach fits very well with the leadership philosophy within IKEA. IKEA continues to use external coaches, for senior managers, where independence is a key part of the assignment. Coaching contributes to growth and a more creative behavior. One project was done in an IKEA store in Sweden, where all managers were given coaching by internal coaches.
