Coaching Leadership

Coaching Leadership Explained

Among the many leadership styles and methodologies, the coaching leadership approach is defined by its leaders' empathetic approach to team members' motivations and makeup and the creation of an environment in which people will happily engage. The coaching leadership style is ideal for leaders looking to create greater employee engagement and growth, which consequently leads to a healthier, stronger, and more effective organization. A coaching leader has been known to:

Be caring
Listen more than they speak
Be patient
Be discerning
Stay accountable
Practice self-discipline
Be vision-oriented
Establish and maintain trust

Are you looking to develop as a coaching leader? Here are some helpful resources to get you started:

Personal and Professional Development in the Workplace

Sometimes without meaning to, we categorize team development as a one-off task to be completed by a coach or facilitator of some sort. We see it as a point-in-time task rather than an ongoing practice that’s woven into everything we do. As a result, we often fall short of where we want our teams to be in their development.

So, how can organizations move the needle on this to encourage an ongoing practice of goal setting for personal and professional development in the workplace? Here are some resources to guide you:

Mentoring vs Coaching

When we talk about coaching team members, most people have a preconceived notion of what that means, such as a memory of a coach along the sidelines screaming loudly (whether from frustration or excitement). Some might not really have a personal experience from which to draw, so they picture a scene from a sports movie.

Most people struggle to make the leap to great coaching in the workplace because it’s not really like sports coaching. While there are similarities, there are also significant differences that must be taken into account in order to have great coaching conversations. Think of it as mentorship, but more empathetic and personalized. A coaching leader doesn't just take into account the one person, but the whole team, and they create a culture and environment in which all can thrive.

Take a look at the following resources to learn more about coaching your team:

Effective Workplace Communication

Establishing effective workplace communication begins and ends with leadership and company culture.

Communication can separate the average leaders from strong leaders, and it can also have a clear impact on an organization’s bottom line. Of the 2 in 5 projects that fail to meet original goals, one of them does so because of ineffective communication, according to research by the Project Management Institute. This knowledge is particularly important for coaching leaders.

When it comes to culture, you want to establish one in which employees feel they can confidently communicate their vision, concerns, ideas, and goals. Here are a few resources to help you on your way to creating more effective workplace communication within your organization:

Improving Employee Engagement and Retention

If you ever spend time wondering what your team members need from you to encourage their engagement and increase their job satisfaction, you’re not alone. Most leaders have struggled at one time or another with figuring out how to do a better job supporting their employees or team members. True leadership is hard, and those who take it seriously know it means working on self-improvement and motivating their team members to do the same.

Providing a fulfilling work environment is about more than parties and platitudes. It takes commitment and focused efforts to help your team members be their best selves every day and to engage in your organization. Here are a few resources to help you improve employee engagement and retention:

Coaching Leadership