Create a Coaching Culture at Your Workplace

#Culture Read time:
Coaching is gaining popularity off the field, too. It’s a style of management where bosses and leaders of all types collaborate with their employees. 

This methodology creates a learning environment where managers (coaches) care for and support their staff, provide feedback and helpful resources, and prioritize thorough communication. This style of leadership not only reduces stress, but also increases confidence and teamwork among employees. 

 

What are the benefits of a coaching culture?

A coaching culture is beneficial throughout entire district, from principals to staff, staff to teachers, and employees to their direct reports. Because this type of leadership requires elevated levels of emotional intelligence (EQ) the lessons learned can benefit any interpersonal relationship, even teacher-student communication.

How it helps:
Entire teams will benefit from coaching-style leadership. Coaching creates a sense of confidence in staff, which empowers them to do their jobs. In fact, staff may take even more initiative in their roles without any micromanagement (which we know is a win-win!). Coaching instills a team mentality where teammates want to excel in their roles while helping others succeed. A good coach feels comfortable delegating challenging work to members of the team. Employees will then feel a sense of empowerment and will likely go above and beyond. 
 

The 10 Commandments of Coaching

Above all else, consider these 10 elements of coaching to gain the maximum benefits, growth, and retention of your stellar staff. Note that these commandments apply to both leaders and individual contributors to your team—everyone wins in a coaching culture!

1. Work alongside employees to help them succeed (rather than just barking orders).
2. Don’t be afraid of failure. Let your team know that it is part of the process towards growth and excellence.
3. Employ a strengths-based approach to developing your staff (like a sports team).
4. Be aware of the effect your emotions have on others. 
5. Prioritize and enhance emotional intelligence for yourself and those you oversee.
6. Show compassion for your employees when they struggle by using active listening skills and thorough communication. 
7. Paraphrase and reflect on what someone says to you to ensure you understand them.
8. Ask permission before providing unsolicited feedback. Not everyone needs advice; sometimes people just need to talk through their problems to find the answer on their own. 
9. When you are criticized do not take offense. Rather, ask, “What can I learn from this?”
10. Demonstrate humility in all things and create a safe place for your team to grow. 

 

Developing a coaching mindset as a teammate

Coaching is truly for anyone who considers themself a leader (even if their official title does not reflect it). As a member of a team, you still have a crucial role to support your teammates with a coaching mentality. Enhancing your EQ will be the most important thing you can do. Here are four ideas to help you become a more effective teammate.

1. Reflect on your own emotions. Do you understand how your words, facial expressions, and body language affect others? Doing this will ensure your teammates feel comfortable working with you.
2. Ask others for their perspective. This will help you grow professionally and consider multiple outcomes to a problem. 
3. Take a moment to pause and think before speaking. Those few seconds can completely change the trajectory of the conversation. 
4. When you are given feedback (whether good or bad), be thankful for the opportunity to learn. Continually asking for feedback will help develop your sense of humility and be one of the best assets to furthering your personal and professional growth. 

 

How to implement a coaching culture

There are several ways you can implement a coaching approach, whether it is just for you or for an entire team. The backbone of creating a coaching culture is offering professional development opportunities in EQ. There are a variety of free and paid resources available for you and your team. The next most important piece is having everyone on board—this means bringing leaders and employees together to explain what it will look like and what the many benefits of this new and exciting leadership style are. With time and thoughtful communication your team will be on its way to discovering the powerful leadership that was in them all along. 

At its core, coaching cultures aim to invest in the wellbeing and growth of every contributor. The time spent investing in individual growth pays dividends when retention soars. 
 

Follow-up resource: Sharing the joy in  your district

Here's how to make joy a goal, instead of a surprise, as part of your school culture: Leaders, spark new joy.




 
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