A fundamental law of coaching is to focus on managing people and performance, not projects and tasks. Welcome to the polar opposite of old-school micromanagement.
If you’ve ever found yourself the overseer of a massive, multi-colored spreadsheet itemizing other people’s tasks – it's time to gently admit to yourself that you have some micromanagement leanings.
But of course, management is a spectrum. You may have some tendencies toward coaching and some toward nit-picking. It’s ok – leadership is a journey.
To master coach-style leadership, you’ll need to let go of telling people how to do their jobs, despite your deep expertise.
How does your current management style compare to coaching? Ask yourself these questions:
1) Do you allow people to take full responsibility for their own decisions and actions?
2) Do you allow people to take risks you might not take?
3) Do you regularly allow people to implement their own creative ideas?
4) Would your team say they’re allowed to challenge you?
5) Would they say their voices are heard?
6) Would they say you treat mistakes as learning opportunities?
7) Do they feel recognized and honored for what they achieve?
If you answered ‘yes’ to all of these questions, you’ve conquered any desire to lead by telling and you’re allowing people the freedom to grow. Consider making it your goal to formalize the way you #coach your team by implementing individual coaching plans.
If you answered ‘no’ to any of these, fear not. Remember, the shift to coaching is empowering for you, not just your team. It will allow you to operate at a more strategic level and to develop even more rewarding relationships. Make it your mission to free yourself of the chains of old-school management.
It's time to shift from old-school micro-management style leadership, to coach-style leadership. Focus on people and performance by allowing your team members to grow through implementing individual coaching plans. This is the first step toward forward-thinking leadership, and it will allow you and your team to thrive.
Companies that have licensed Lisa’s Coaching Fundamentals Workshop have seen great results when it comes to coach-style leadership. Perhaps this is the next step for you?