There are many traits that define a good manager, but according to Google’s Project Oxygen – being a ‘good coach’ falls at the top of the list along with other people management skills. If you think back to your previous managers, ask yourself what made them stand out. Managers that express empathy, concern for well being, and a desire to help their peers grow – define a good coach, mentor, and leader. Always keep in mind that your people are the wheels of your team.
You may already be an excellent Manager and coach, but with everything – there’s always room for improvement. The following are just a few ways to improve your coaching skills…
- Provide feedback. Your staff need feedback to help them grow and improve themselves. If they don’t receive any feedback, they will continue doing what they do as they do. This is why quarterly (or at least annual) reviews are so important, but some things should be addressed in a timely fashion as situations occur.
- Practice empathy. To truly understand and help a person, you need to put yourselves in their shoes and feel their struggles. Through empathy can we actively listen, be fully present, and communicate in a caring manner.
- Tailor approaches to each individual. Each staff member is different and your communication styles should vary from employee to employee. We strongly advise one on one meetings to allow you to tailor your approach.
- Ask open ended questions. Open ended questions are both positive for you and your employees. They improve the relationship as an open ended question shows you care and are curious while also giving you insight to your employees’ thought process. Close ended questions do not flow a conversation and can sometimes come off as ‘cold’.
It may sound simple, but some do require a high level of experience. The3rdGear can help you empower your employees and help you become the best Manager you can be. A good place to begin is by following the GROW model by focusing on four important factors – goal, reality, options, and will, asking yourself the following questions:
- What do you want?
- Where are you now?
- What could you do?
- What will you do?