Traditional management assumes the manager has all the answers, while coaching assumes employees have knowledge.
In traditional management the manager gives advice, while in coaching the manager listens closely, and then asks appropriate questions to help employees find answers.
In traditional management it is difficult for employees to get anything done when the manager is physically gone. With coaching, employees have knowledge and can continue working when the manager is not physically there.
In traditional management, the manager is constantly fixing problems. In coaching, employees fix the problems and managers spend their time developing the employees.
The result? When you manage traditionally, employees feel like they leave their brains at the door when coming to work. When you are coaching your employees, they are happier, more motivated and more productive.
Of course, this is more easily said than done. Coaching requires some specific skills, like observation and assessment, questioning, listening and feedback. Initially, coaching takes more time than traditional management. However, when your coaching results in employees solving issues themselves versus you giving them the answers, you will find that they are more likely to come up with the solution on their own the next time. In the long run, you will save time and have a stronger team.
To learn more specific ways how to coach your employees, contact Halmi Performance Consulting (kerrie@halmiperformance.com or 510-336-0654)to receive one-on-one coaching, attend a public "Coaching Clinic" (read about it in this newsletter) or arrange a customized Coaching Clinic at your organization.
Manage This … you've most likely heard about emotional intelligence. What does it mean for managing your people? Find out right here on the second Monday in November.
A reporter for The Monthly interviewed me on a piece about coaching—see it at http://www.themonthly.com/shopping-05-08.html. Bay Area BusinessWoman asked me to write an article on communication—it's at http://www.babwnews.com/article.php?id=356.