Star players know this. Star companies know it too. But like any top contender, you need a coach to help guide you through these challenges: to build up your weaknesses, to maximize your strengths, and to provide valuable and impartial guidance.

The processs for learning and achieving mastery is one of:

1. Targeting Desired Performance
2. Assessing Present Skill/Performance
3. Providing Specific Feedback
4. Creating and Implementing a Development Plan
5. On-Going Coaching Feedback

The #1 and #2 techniques for improving individual or group performance are:

1. Providing Feedback
2. Providing Recognition

They also happen to be the most under-utilized "tools" in any manager's toolkit.

If you would like to improve the performance of an individual or a team and lack the tools, the time or the objectivity, consider a coach. If you are an executive, it is sometimes nice to have an experienced sounding board to craft your ideas and actions.