Leadership coaching is the process of developing people’s skills and abilities to inspire growth within the members of an organization. Oftentimes managers find themselves needing balance between managing people and creating an environment where team members can grow and flourish. In every organization there will be areas for improvement. A good leader will have the skills needed to navigate such issues with direction and support resulting in a more effective team.
This is different from the typical training managers provide as each coaching session is typically done in a one-on-one fashion and tailored to each employee’s individual needs, goals, and progress.
The Foundation of Effective Coaching
Understanding Individual Strengths and Weaknesses
To become a successful coach, it’s important to step back and remember that each person has a separate set of strengths, moderate skills, weaknesses, and individual goals. When keeping those pieces in mind, a successful coach will work to build a relationship with each member of their team that stems from clearly established boundaries and trust.
Building Trust with Your Team
This trust is earned through clear, concise learning objectives, showing good judgement, having patience, and reliable follow-through. Once a relationship has been built, it becomes easier for the coach to assess each team member individually and determine areas where support, growth opportunities, and focus should stem.
Asking the Right Questions
In asking pointed open-ended questions during a coaching session, a good manager can help an employee self-identify areas for potential development and growth as well as weakness.
Sample Questions to Identify Strengths and Weaknesses
- Strengths: “What has been the best day at work in the last three months for you?”
This question helps identify tasks or activities an employee enjoys and feels engaged by, which can be cultivated into strengths. - Weaknesses: “What was your worst day at work in the last three months?”
This question provides insight into what drains motivation or creativity, highlighting areas that might need support or change.
Focusing on Positive Growth
Leveraging Strengths to Overcome Weaknesses
In coaching, it is best to focus on the positives. Even areas of weakness can be overcome with strategic self-actualized plans based on utilizing one’s strengths to take a new approach to defeating those weaknesses.
Creating an Ideal Environment for Growth
Listening carefully for the details that trigger success is important. For some, recognition may be the positive trigger; for others, more management involvement or independence on projects may foster growth and satisfaction.
Traits of a Good Coach
A good coach will be self-aware and skilled at knowing the strengths, skills, and weaknesses in their team members. They will help those members actualize their goals with clear, concise goals, timelines, objectives, and expectations.
Maintaining a Positive Coaching Approach
- Allow adequate time for concerns and discussion
- Use active listening and maintain optimism
- Encourage solutions-focused conversations over negativity
- Provide resources, support, and timely follow-up
- Successfully applying these best coaching behaviors can improve a team’s productivity, group dynamic, and overall effectiveness.
To learn more about the Front Line Leadership Program and how it can turn a good manager into a great coach, contact Front Line Leadership Program. Great leaders are trained on the Front Line.