Bosses Are Out ? Managers As Coaches Are In

Home
>
Business Management
>
Bosses Are Out ? Managers As Coaches Are In

Bosses Are Out ? Managers As Coaches Are In

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

In The News:

Yahoo! News: Top Stories

Gaza violence rages on despite UN cease-fire call (AP)

AP - The U.N. Security Council called for an immediate cease-fire in Gaza, but an intense bombardment of missiles from Israeli jets and helicopters early Friday and a barrage of Hamas rockets indicated there may be no quick end to the fighting.

Illinois House on verge of impeaching Blagojevich (AP)

AP - Gov. Rod Blagojevich faces almost certain impeachment by the Illinois House, a historic step that would trigger a trial to determine whether the Democratic governor should be tossed out of office.

Democrats begin new session with labor bills (AP)

AP - Democrats are ushering in what they believe will be a new labor-friendly era in Washington with House votes on two bills aimed at helping women fight pay discrimination in the workplace.

Job losses stack up as recession deepens (AP)

AP - Trying to survive a deepening recession, employers are cutting their work forces to the bone, leaving more Americans unemployed and with dim prospects of finding a new job any time soon.

Toxic coal ash piling up in ponds in 32 states (AP)

AP - Millions of tons of toxic coal ash is piling up in power plant ponds in 32 states, a practice the federal government has long recognized as a risk to human health and the environment but has left unregulated.

Obama to finalize national security team Friday (AP)

AP - President-elect Barack Obama is completing his national security team by announcing his unusual choices for CIA director and a national intelligence director who may face tough Senate confirmation questioning over how he confronted the Indonesian military when civilian massacres were occurring in East Timor.

Emphasis on smooth transition to new Cabinet (AP)

AP - Just minutes after George W. Bush took the oath of office eight years ago, he signed papers formally nominating 13 Cabinet-level officials. Several hours later, the Senate, meeting in a special Saturday session, confirmed seven Cabinet secretaries, including the heads of the key posts at State, Treasury and Defense.

Rifts show as Obama urges quick action on stimulus (AP)

AP - Lawmakers are under orders to finish action on President-elect Barack Obama's nearly $800 billion economic recovery plan by mid-February. But already it is plain that a set of serious fissures need to be bridged if the bill is to be completed within five weeks.

Critics' final answer: `Slumdog' wins 5 awards (AP)

AP - The critics have spoken, and "Slumdog Millionaire" is their final answer.

Mini Dynasty: Tebow leads Gators past Oklahoma (AP)

AP - The game defied expectations. Tim Tebow fulfilled them. He rescued No. 1 Florida, running through and throwing over No. 2 Oklahoma for a 24-14 victory Thursday night that gave the Gators their second BCS championship in three years.

World waits on jobs data as recession weighs (Reuters)

Reuters - U.S. employers probably cut the most jobs in at least 34 years last month as the global economic crisis gathered pace and moves by policy makers took time to filter through to struggling companies.

U.N. calls for immediate Gaza truce (Reuters)

Reuters - Israel pushed ahead with its two-week-old offensive in the Gaza Strip, ignoring a U.N. Security Council resolution calling for an immediate ceasefire.

Panel steps up criticism of Treasury: report (Reuters)

Reuters - A report being released on Friday alleges that the U.S. Treasury has failed to reveal its strategy for stabilizing the financial system, not answered questions asked by a government watchdog, and has done nothing to help struggling homeowners, the Wall Street Journal said.

EU seeks gas supply return after deal (Reuters)

Reuters - Europe sought a swift restoration of gas supplies on Friday after striking a deal with Moscow on monitoring gas shipments via Ukraine that have been halted by a pricing dispute with Kiev.

Citi backs measure to help avoid foreclosures (Reuters)

Reuters - Financial giant Citigroup Inc will support a proposal in Congress to rewrite U.S. bankruptcy law to help troubled mortgage borrowers avoid foreclosure, Chief Executive Vikram Pandit said on Thursday.

Illinois panel recommends governor's impeachment (Reuters)

Reuters - A legislative committee on Thursday recommended the impeachment of Illinois Gov. Rod Blagojevich, citing widespread abuse of power including allegations he tried to sell the U.S. Senate seat vacated by President-elect Barack Obama.

Obama team amending financial rescue package: report (Reuters)

Reuters - President-elect Barack Obama's economic team is urgently overhauling the $700 billion financial rescue package to broaden its scope beyond Wall Street, The Washington Post reported on Friday.

Qaeda Pakistan leader believed dead: U.S. official (Reuters)

Reuters - Al Qaeda's operations chief in Pakistan and a top aide are believed to be dead, a U.S. counterterrorism official said on Thursday, in what appeared to be the latest results of a campaign targeting the militant group's leadership.

Gaza toll mounts as UN Security Council urges immediate truce (AFP)

AFP - Israel carried out new deadly air raids on the Gaza Strip on Friday as the UN Security Council called for an immediate ceasefire to end the two-week-old conflict in the Palestinian enclave.

Hopes for Russia gas deal after EU claims breakthrough (AFP)

AFP - European states deprived of Russian gas amid freezing weather were Friday hoping for a resumption of deliveries after the European Union claimed a breakthrough in the crisis between Moscow and Kiev.

Bosses Are Out ? Managers As Coaches Are In

Business Management Business Management