Dir. of Org. Dev.
I recently presented a workshop called “Leader or Coach – Why not both?”. My goal was to explore the reasons why (even) great leaders struggle to use coaching as an empowerment tool.
At the very beginning, we evaluated ourselves on where we are on an empowerment scale: from CONTROL on one end to AUTONOMY on the other end. I asked the group, “Where do you currently place yourself right now?”, and most of the participants shared they were more on the CONTROL end of the scale. I then asked the group, “Where do you want to be?”, and no surprise, the group overwhelmingly shared they want to be more on the AUTONOMY end.
The rest of our time together explored the main reasons why we do not coach more frequently. I am sharing this list of Coaching Obstacles in the hopes that you may find one or two reasons that resonate. You can begin to work on what is holding you back from this valuable tool of coaching.
PS – I did not need to spend any time explaining the benefits of coaching – this savvy group already knew the payoff of empowering their teams (increased employee engagement, improved team performance, and better decision-making)
- Lack of time
- Lack of skills or confidence
- Fear of establishing a personal connection
- Fear of failure
- Fear of giving up control
- Perception that employees don’t need/want coaching
- Not patient enough to wait on results
- Fear of conflict or discomfort
- Don’t know how to help with goal setting process
- Worried about legal issues
Quick tips for getting started (no matter what your obstacle above may be):
- Prepare yourself: evaluate your mindset and assess your current skills
- Create a coaching model that works for you
- Discuss your approach with a peer or HR (to get feedback)
- Schedule at least (3) sessions on your calendar
- Talk with Coachee to get agreement
- START!!
Our workshop was focused on formal coaching, but coaching can happen in day-to-day interactions as well (e.g., by asking more questions, actively listening, and providing feedback). The most important takeaway is to incorporate coaching into your leadership style and practice.
If you need coach support with the ideas above, please reach out to us – we are committed to your success!