There is a new trend taking hold in business today which translates into amazing productivity, results, and a happier workforce. It's easy, positive, and some say transformative; best of all, it's something you and every other individual charged with the responsibility for getting results through others can learn to do. It is?coaching people instead of managing them.
Coaching is a skill, style, and way of being which emanates from the root value of caring for one's self and others. Wouldn't you agree - you are more centered, motivated, and productive in an environment where you know others sincerely care about your growth and development, not just what you can do for them? If you're ready for more success and break-through results, commit to mastering some of a coach's skills and characteristics:
1. Create a co-active partnership with employees.
There is no room for a hierarchy here. View employees as equals, embrace diversity, and utilize dialogue and inquiry, which tap the knowledge of each individual, to develop strategies/solutions. You will find employees are motivated to contribute because they have ownership in the solution and an opportunity to express their unique gifts, talents, and passions.
2. Be a guide.
Share your knowledge experience, ideas and wisdom to support employees in moving forward personally and professionally. Understand that what worked for you may or may not be right for another, and only what resonates as meaningful or insightful will be absorbed and applied.
3. Use positive language.
Words have the power to change your life and change your mood in a flash ? no kidding. Just listen to the words people use in the next couple of days, notice what is being said on TV, radio, conversations around you, and what you say. Explore the quality of your words and the energy behind them. Are they positive and expanding or negative and contracting? Understand the power of language and use words that are affirmative and compassionate.
4. Listen.
When was the last time you were really heard and felt safe enough to say it all? Give your full attention to each employee. No multi-tasking, judging, rushing to fill the pause or presupposing an outcome allowed. Use your intuition and all your other senses to hear the words and tone of what the employee is and is not saying.
5. Be honest and caring in your communications.
Don't step over anything. Look for achievements to compliment and keep employees advised of pertinent organizational information and expectations?they need this to effectively do their jobs. Remember, employees can't change what they don't know - share performance improvement feedback in a humane and constructive way as soon as possible.
6. Model life long learning and encourage self-development in others.
You likely want more success, money, balance, happiness, etc. Chances are your employees do too. Support each in their individual quest to continually learn and grow to be their best.
7. Build a strong personal foundation.
Be sure the infrastructure supporting your own life is strong and healthy. Take care of any unfinished business from the past and don't waste energy worrying about the future, it may never come to pass. Live fully in the present, surround yourself with a loving family, a community of friends, get your financial and protective reserves in place, and make time for fun and self-care.
Imagine yourself as the catalyst, your team as the source, and your company as the benefactor of greater productivity, improved working relationships, better-quality customer service, and higher levels of employee satisfaction and retention?learn to be a coach in the workplace.
Pam N. Woods is co-author of a bestselling book, Create the Business Breakthrough You Want: Secrets and Strategies from the World's Greatest Mentors; endorsed by Ken Blanchard and Dr. Stephen Covey. She is a Coach U graduate and President of Smart WorkLife Solutions, a coaching and consulting company devoted to co-creating customized solutions to fit clients business and personal organizing needs. Prior to founding her own firm she had a successful 20+ year career as an insurance executive and Vice President of Human Resources. For more free how-to articles and advice, or to contact Woods, visit http://www.worklifecoach.com. Copyright 2002 - Pam Woods
On consulting assignments, here are some of the questions I... Read More
People sometimes interchange the terms "know-how" and "knowledge", but there's... Read More
If you have the entrepreneurial spirit (which clearly you have!),... Read More
The story of the emperor's new clothes is a fairy... Read More
When I was first initiated into Corporate America, I had... Read More
The Best Workplaces report (Financial Times, April 28, 2005) notes... Read More
Imagine that you're a sports coach and you need a... Read More
The Comfort Zone I... Read More
COMPANY/ORGANIZATIONA South Florida hospital. The CEO of the hospital saw... Read More
--PREPARATION: The purpose of the therapeutic approach is to spark... Read More
What would happen if the personal assistants in your organisation... Read More
Steven Covey had the right idea. There are discreet skills... Read More
Media relations can be difficult, but also rewarding. And the... Read More
IMPROVING COMMUNICATION DURING THE PERFORMANCE APPRAISAL: If the employee has... Read More
"What do you mean you need to push back the... Read More
Any IT manager who wants to pursue the IT Service... Read More
There is a pervasive belief that time pressure stimulates creativity.... Read More
Question: What's the easiest, cheapest and quickest way to have... Read More
Merely assigning a task with detailed instructions is not effective... Read More
STEPS TOWARDS A GOOD APPRAISAL INTERVIEW:Don't say: "You just don't... Read More
Gratitude might seem like a soft or even an obvious... Read More
For many companies, procuring the right packaging, such as Poly... Read More
I see a PR firm has done a survey on... Read More
And is isn't hard - it's more about focusing on... Read More
It's the middle of the night. You've woken up with... Read More
You're so excited you're practically bouncing off the walls. This... Read More
Using Employee Opinions Effectively When Designing HR ProgramsEmployee opinion is... Read More
This article relates to the Compensation and Benefits competency, commonly... Read More
In my organisational career, I had budgets from the age... Read More
The ability to solve complicated problems quickly is more important... Read More
Creativity can be defined as problem identification and idea generation... Read More
IntroductionWhen Alex Osborn invented the creativity technique called brainstorming, I... Read More
Integrity is very important to me, and I try hard... Read More
MANAGING SMALL MEETINGS: Keep the size of the meeting as... Read More
The other day one of our overseas clients called in... Read More
The first step in planning an agenda is to identify... Read More
Being able to communicate effectively with others requires people skills,... Read More
How many times have you wondered why you are unable... Read More
Cold Water Comments - What They Are and How to... Read More
Okay, be honest!Are you guilty of sticking in a few... Read More
Nearly all leaders I've encountered are underachievers. They're getting a... Read More
Unhappy as Jenny undoubtedly was, she held on very tightly... Read More
Even a well-planned teleconference can go poorly. Some people treat... Read More
I am not writing this to create a list of... Read More
Ineffective communication is a major, yet avoidable, obstacle to business... Read More
I sit on the board of an organization and at... Read More
A recent report entitled "How Google Grows?and Grows?and Grows" stated... Read More
Motivation is a term that is so widely used, yet... Read More
One of the major benefits, if not THE benefit of... Read More
The verdict is in: More and more baby boomers will... Read More
Are your management practices on the right track? Retaining your... Read More
Can you imagine playing hockey without a goal? Basketball without... Read More
DECIDING WHAT TO DELEGATE: Once the benefits of delegation are... Read More
1. What is an Issue?An issue is an incident, circumstance,... Read More
Interested in learning how to reduce development time, save money... Read More
Bar Charts and the Information ChallengeWhether one is an unknown... Read More
Being a good trainer requires experience and skill. Experience comes... Read More
Now we turn the corner to our final phase: Re-Discovery.Last... Read More
We all have been in meetings with certain people who... Read More
Suggested practice for HR personnelMuslims now form one of the... Read More
Few Decision makers see the link between between creativity and... Read More
Because of my work as a consultant, trainer and coach... Read More
This article relates to the Work/Life Balance competency, which investigates... Read More
Are you a business, non-profit or association manager who pretty... Read More
In these days of restricted head count and tight budgets,... Read More
Question: ERPs seem like a good idea, so why is... Read More
Business Management |