The Leader-as-Coach

Chances are you've witnessed a coach in action at some point, right?

Maybe someone who:

— Guided you through tough times

— Helped you improve your skills

— Supported you in job hunting

— Coached you in a sport

In these and other scenarios, coaches play a pivotal role in guiding people to:

Grow, achieve their goals and their best versions.

The same is true in the workplace.

As a leader, you can't make every decision.

You need your team members to be capable of:

✅ Thinking

✅ Learning

✅ Analyzing

✅ Making decisions

All with a high level of autonomy and independence.

Through coaching, you provide them with support to develop these skills.

But remember, coaching isn't about:

❌ Offering advice

❌ Following rigid steps

❌ Being a mentor or trainer

❌ Giving employees explicit direction

Instead, an effective leader-as-coach:

✅ Asks questions instead of providing answers

✅ Supports employees instead of judging them

✅ Facilitates team development instead of dictating what has to be done.

So, if coaching is so valuable, why don’t managers use this superpower more often?

What many people don't understand about coaching is that it’s not an extra task or a separate duty to add to an already full plate.

They think it's an additional task, but it’s not!

If you're leading your team correctly, coaching is a natural part of your daily interactions with them.

One of the fastest ways to introduce coaching into your interactions is to try conversing using the GROW model.

And while the concept is simple to understand, it requires training yourself to think in new ways about your role and value as a leader.

🔸 Goal: Identify what the employee wants to achieve.

🔸 Reality: Evaluate and understand their current situation.

🔸 Options: Explore different options the employee has to reach their goal.

🔸 Will: Determine the specific actions the person will take to achieve the goal.

Key Takeaway:

Coaching is a business imperative! And it isn’t just for employees with performance problems. Your entire team will benefit from guidance in building skills and choosing actions that lead to positive business results.

With the GROW approach, coaching becomes a seamless part of your leadership, empowering your team and bringing out the full potential they have within.

Are you a new or experienced manager looking to level up❓

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