The Beginner’s Guide to Coaching Employees

If you think back on the best leader you ever worked for, what do you think it is that separates them from all the rest? Did they push and challenge you to be better? Did they show you empathy and compassion when you needed it most? Were they someone whose advice, feedback, and insight you trusted and willingly sought out? If that sounds about right, you weren’t just working for a boss - you were working for a coach.

Transitioning from boss to coach isn’t always easy and it won’t happen overnight. It takes time, training, and real-life experience to be able to coach employees in a way that positively supports their performance, growth, and development.

This investment is well worth it though. Not only does it have the potential to boost your effectiveness as a leader and support your career in leadership, but coaching, when done well, can also positively influence the employees you coach, the teams you lead, and the clients your employees work with. In fact, according to Gartner, employees who believe their direct leaders are strong coaches are 20% more likely to stay with their current company, 40% more engaged with their work, and willing to exert up to 38% more discretionary effort.

To assist you through the transition from boss to coach, this Beginner’s Guide to Coaching Employees includes several practical tools and templates that you can immediately implement into your day-to-day leadership practice.