It is the first time that Force trainers have gained the recognition of an academic institute. The certificate award also represents a major achievement of Training Wing in promoting "Coaching for Development", which is a theme for the Force Training and Development Plan 2003-05.

The theme has been set with the objective of encouraging the use of effective coaching to facilitate professional and personal development among Force members.

The Force trainers, who passed a trainer assessment on "Peer Coaching Through Empathetic Listening" (PECTEL) conducted by APIB in August, received their trainer certificates from the APIB Executive Director and Acting Dean of the Faculty of Business Administration, Professor Leslie Young, at a presentation ceremony on October 11.

Coaching skills for supervisors

Speaking at the presentation, Assistant Commissioner (Training) David Thomas said Training Wing aimed at providing training on coaching skills for supervisory officers, and promoting coaching practices in the Force. He estimated that about 500 officers would have received training by the end of the current financial year.

Mr Thomas pointed out that coaching skill training had been incorporated into promotion courses for newly promoted supervisors. Learning Development Support Centre (LDSC) also provided training courses for in-service supervisory officers, from sergeants to chief inspectors, who attended on a voluntary basis.

"This means in-service supervisory officers can attend the training in their own time. For the most recent intake, there are eight courses for 160 officers. But we have received more than 320 applications. We have also organised a course for officers in the Yau Ma Tei Station to attend in their own time. The feedback has been very encouraging," he said.

"Certainly more quality training on coaching skills will be organised in the near future," Mr Thomas noted.

Trainer assessment

The trainer assessment was co-ordinated by Professor Winton Au, Associate Professor, Department of Psychology, The Chinese University of Hong Kong.

In a short speech, Prof Au outlined the concept and significance of the PECTEL programme. He pointed out that the programme taught four key elements that made an effective coach who could improve the performance of subordinates, and provided guidance and role-modelling for them.

The programme was a "pragmatic workshop" which focused on real work situations. "We trust that practitioners will find these theory-driven coaching skills very applicable and useful at the workplace," he concluded.

The certificate recipients are Law Chun-hung, Superintendent (Force Training Officer) LDSC; Leung Ka-mei, Chief Inspector (Assistant Force Training Officer) LDSC; Lau To-sang, Chief Inspector Non-commissioned Officer Development Learning Division (NCO JD); Sin Chiu-kong, Senior Inspector, NCO JD; Tam Yip-shing, Senior Inspector NCO JD; Yiu Hon-sang, Senior Inspector NCO JD; Chung Tai-keung, Senior Inspector NCO JD; Mak Ka-po, Senior Inspector NCO JD; Yuen Wai-han, Station Sergeant JD; Ma Hung-cheung, Station Sergeant JD; Chan Fung-ling, Chief Inspector FPAT HR; Lo Kam-tim, Chief Inspector Training Auxiliary Support, and Cheng Wing-on, Senior Inspector, Railway District.

Trainers' views

Two of them, Mr Yiu Hon-sang and Mr Ma Hung-cheung, shared the view that besides workplace, PECTEL was also applicable at home and in social circle.

"Empathetic listening and response are an essential skill in communication. By applying the skill at workplace as a coach, we'll understand the other party's thinking and feelings, and make a positive response. Likewise, applying the same at home or in a social circle will help children up-bringing and enhance inter-personal relationship among friends respectively," Mr Yiu explained.

Mr Yiu also regarded empathetic listening and response as an important management skill, a "problem solver" and a "good foundation" for supervisory officers.

Mr Ma said coaching would also benefit a coachee's personal growth and development, leadership potential, self-confidence, as well as communication and relationship with colleagues, family members, friends and other persons.

Train-the-trainer mode

Meanwhile, LDSC is actively promoting coaching practices within the Force, and has adopted the train-the-trainer mode. Training on coaching skills has been incorporated into the SGT and SSGT Promotion Courses since early this year, and into the Tutor PC Training Course this month.

More training courses are being provided for supervisory officers, from sergeant to chief inspector, who attend after work on a voluntary basis. By the end of November, eight more courses would have been run for 160 officers.

The 13 Force Trainers with Prof Young (middle), Prof Au (left) and Mr Thomas