6.3 THE SKILLS YOU NEED TO BE A GREAT BOSS: Informal Coaching for Managers

(EXTRACTION FROM TEAM MANAGEMENT: Coaching Your Team at http://www.mindtools.com)

 

Coaching should be something that all managers do with their teams.  It helps to improve a person's performance, and deal with any issues before these become major problems.

FIVE POINT GUIDE FOR USING INFORMAL COACHING
Be patient, and change your perspective ·        Take time to explore the current and upcoming workloads of team members ·        adjust schedule to the demands placed upon your team ·        Be aware of what members of your team are doing ·        be available so that you can offer support and informal coaching if required
Be aware of a people's moods ·        be more sensitive to other people's emotions ·        Learn to recognize small changes in behavior and body language ·        note how people react when a task or project has been successful
Ask for permission before coaching ·        always ask whether it's a good time to take a few minutes for a coaching conversation
Coach – don't manage or direct ·        Avoid offering advice or direction and calling it "coaching."
Use informal moments to make the best use of time ·        use informal moments like sitting in the break room, or passing the person in the hallway ·        use time at the end of a meeting that ends early, or when traveling together to a client's office or other work location ·        The spirit of informal coaching is to be spontaneous, efficient, and professional