Successful Leaders are Great Coaches
29 October 2022
I am a fan of Harvard Business Review (HBR). I am now a subscriber. They write great articles on Coaching & Leadership. I enjoy reading them.
Since I was an ICF Certified Coach in 2012 and became an ICF accredited Coach soon after that, I’ve facilitated over a couple of hundred The Leader As Coach program and Coaching For Leaders workshops.
I’ve trained, observed, reflected on over 3,000 Leaders – First Time Managers, Mid-level to Senior Level Managers – and discovered that they are able to acquire some simple Coaching Skills, apply and practice with their direct reports & colleagues.
And the results? It works!
Their direct reports are empowered and made autonomous decisions, felt good about applying their own solutions to address the day to day challenges which they knew so well.
It may look simple but it’s never easy.
First they need to be open to learn some coaching skills – building trust, asking great questions, actively listening, giving appreciation and validation, provide candid feedback, care & empathy. They need to adopt new behaviors and habits. They became aware of what needs to change. It’s the courage & discipline to change that makes it viable. And be humble to admit that what they did before did not work anymore and adapt to the new routines.
Leaders need to have a coaching mindset ie. the people working with them are resourceful, creative, capable and has the answers.
Leaders need to learn that they don’t have all the answers and their people do.
Yes! Successful Leaders are great Coaches.
The article started of by saying “Leadership is going through massive changes as the Baby Boomers transfer power to emerging leaders in the Gen X, Millennial, and Gen Z generations. That generational change is bringing with it a shift in leadership style, from leaders as capable managers to leaders as great coaches of people.
And the 5 aspects that make great Coaching Leaders are:
1. Care: Build Understanding and Trust
2. Organize: Get People in Their Sweet Spot
3. Align: Unite People Around a Common Vision and Purpose
4. Challenge: Summon People’s Best
5. Help: Solve Problems and Celebrate Success
https://hbr.org/2022/10/successful-leaders-are-great-coaches
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