Leadership Coaching: Why Your Team Needs You to Be Their Yoda
Being a leader isn't just about making decisions and looking important in meetings. It's about nurturing your team, helping them grow, and occasionally pretending to understand their memes. In short, it's about coaching.
Why Coaching Matters
1. It's Like Miracle-Gro for Your Team: Coaching helps your people grow faster than a chia pet on steroids. And trust me, watching your team flourish is way more satisfying than any houseplant.
2. It's the Gift That Keeps on Giving: The benefits of coaching don't expire. You're building skills that last a lifetime.
3. It's Your Secret Weapon Against the Turnover Monster: When people feel supported and valued, they're less likely to jump ship. Unless, of course, you're in the Navy and it’s swim call. Then all bets are off.
4. It Makes You Look Good: Let's be selfish for a second. When your team succeeds, you succeed. It's like being the proud parent at a school play, except with less off-key singing.
5. It's Cheaper Than Therapy: For both you and your team. Working through challenges together can be surprisingly cathartic. Just don't expect anyone to lie down on a couch.
The Heart of the Matter
Now, let's get a little mushy for a moment. At its core, coaching is about connection. It's about showing your team that you see them, you believe in them, and you're willing to invest your time and energy in their success.
Remember that teacher who believed in you? The one who pushed you to be better, who saw potential you didn't even know you had? That's the kind of leader you have the opportunity to be. And let me tell you, it feels pretty darn good. I recall one of my grade school teachers, Mrs. de Salvo. She encouraged me and believed in me and, at the same time, held me accountable--strictly. I gained a ton of confidence because of her, especially because I was quite sensitive. I think of this as a Ted Lasso moment. Coach them to be better and hold them accountable with love.
So, How Do You Start?
Well, you're in luck! I've prepared a list of coaching questions to get you started. Think of these as your leadership training wheels. Before you know it, you'll be coaching with the best of them, dispensing wisdom like a vending machine dispenses slightly stale snacks.
1. What's most challenging about that?
2. Why is this important to you?
3. What skills would you like to develop?
4. What's the most outrageous thought or action you could have right now?
5. What's one thing I could do differently to better support you?
Great leaders aren't born, they're made. Usually through a combination of experience, effort, and an embarrassing number of mistakes. But mostly, they're made by caring enough to help others succeed.
So go forth, dear leader. Coach, mentor, guide. Be the Yoda to their Luke Skywalker. The Ted Lasso to the team. You get the idea. Your team is waiting. May the coaching force be with you!
