How do you coach junior economists?

1 Understand their goals and motivations

The first step in coaching junior economists is to understand their goals and motivations. What are they interested in? What are they good at? What are they struggling with? What are their career aspirations? By having a clear picture of their strengths, weaknesses, and preferences, you can tailor your coaching approach to suit their individual needs and preferences. You can also help them set realistic and achievable goals, monitor their progress, and celebrate their achievements.

2 Provide guidance and support

The second step in coaching junior economists is to provide guidance and support. This means not only teaching them the technical skills and knowledge they need to perform their tasks, but also helping them develop the soft skills and attitudes that are essential for their success. For example, you can help them improve their communication, presentation, teamwork, critical thinking, and problem-solving skills. You can also encourage them to seek feedback, learn from mistakes, and embrace challenges. You can do this by sharing your own experiences, insights, and tips, as well as by giving them constructive and specific feedback on their work.

3 Facilitate learning and development

The third step in coaching junior economists is to facilitate learning and development. This means creating opportunities for them to learn new things, apply their skills, and expand their horizons. You can do this by assigning them projects that match their interests and abilities, involving them in discussions and debates, exposing them to different perspectives and sources of information, and connecting them with other experts and resources. You can also encourage them to pursue further education, training, or certification, if relevant and feasible.

4 Empower and inspire

The fourth step in coaching junior economists is to empower and inspire. This means giving them autonomy, responsibility, and recognition for their work, as well as motivating them to pursue their goals and passions. You can do this by delegating tasks that allow them to use their creativity, initiative, and judgment, by trusting them to make decisions and solve problems, and by acknowledging and rewarding their contributions and achievements. You can also inspire them by sharing your vision, values, and purpose, as well as by demonstrating your enthusiasm, commitment, and excellence.

5 Build trust and rapport

The fifth step in coaching junior economists is to build trust and rapport. This means establishing a positive and respectful relationship with them, based on mutual understanding, honesty, and openness. You can do this by showing genuine interest and care for them as individuals, by listening actively and empathetically to their concerns and ideas, by respecting their opinions and preferences, and by being supportive and encouraging. You can also build trust and rapport by being consistent, reliable, and transparent, as well as by admitting your own mistakes and limitations.

6 Evaluate and adjust

The sixth step in coaching junior economists is to evaluate and adjust. This means assessing the effectiveness of your coaching approach, as well as the outcomes and impacts of your coaching interventions. You can do this by soliciting feedback from your coachees, as well as from other stakeholders, such as managers, peers, or clients. You can also use various tools and methods, such as surveys, interviews, observations, or metrics, to measure and analyze the results and progress of your coachees. Based on the feedback and data you collect, you can then identify the strengths and weaknesses of your coaching style, as well as the areas of improvement and opportunities for your coachees. You can then adjust your coaching plan and strategy accordingly, to ensure that you are meeting the needs and expectations of your coachees, as well as your own goals and objectives.

7 Here’s what else to consider

This is a space to share examples, stories, or insights that don’t fit into any of the previous sections. What else would you like to add?