Leadership Coaching – 8 Skills to Master

 

There are many ways to lead a team of workers, but the most effective is to be a coach. A coach in the work place follows the same processes as a sports coach and attempts to establish the same types of relationships with the staff. If your ambition is to be a coach to your staff, then there are eight skills you must master to get the job done right.

Listening

One of the biggest differences between a coach and a standard corporate manager is that a coach thrives on input from their staff members. You cannot be an effective coach if you are not listening to what your workers are telling you. Not only do you listen, but you use that input to give each worker the personal attention they need.

Conveying Thoughts

A coach looks to gain the trust of their staff and that means making sure that every word that is said counts. There are no wasted words when you are trying to establish a strong working relationship with a staff member, and that is why you have to become very good at conveying your thoughts. You also need to become an expert at putting your ideas ideas into words that have value for each worker.

Empathy

A good leader does not judge people for their successes or failures. A good leader understands each person’s strengths and weaknesses and works hard to help each person succeed. If you are unable to be empathetic towards your staff, then you are going to find it very difficult to earn their respect. You will also find it hard to get through to a troubled employee if you do not show an interest in their personal apprehensions.

Constantly Seeking Knowledge

A coach leads by example, and a strong coach always wants their subordinates to constantly learn new things that will expand their skill set. The best way to get your subordinates to learn something new each day is for you to do the same thing. Make the pursuit of knowledge a primary task for you and your staff and you will find success.

Know Your Staff

A coach knows that making blanket statements and assigning responsibilities without matching a worker’s skill with the company’s needs is a recipe for disaster. As a leader and coach, you must know all of the strengths and weaknesses of your staff members and develop your staff based on what each individual does best.

Take An Active Role In The Team’s Success

Most people in the corporate world are used to a boss giving orders and then going into their office behind a closed door. A coach is a leader who is out there with their workers getting the job done, helping each worker to improve their skills, answering questions, and taking part in the group’s success.

Challenge Your Staff

A typical corporate manager gives workers the solutions to situations to make sure that things are always done the company way. A coach asks open-ended questions and challenges their workers to think for themselves and become proficient in solving problems.

Be A Resource

A coach is a resource for workers when it comes to the company vision, each worker’s role in the company’s success, and any other type of information a worker may need. A coach looks to inform their workers instead of hand-feeding them all of the information the workers feel they need.