Can Management Skills Be Coached?

Can I really coach someone to have a more effective management style?

Everyone can be coached. The key questions in any coaching situation are how much will the coaching change the behavior, and who should do the coaching. Most people are receptive to coaching if it's done constructively and with the individual's best interests in mind. But there are a few rules to follow when coaching management:

• If the president or CEO requires the coaching, ask someone from outside the organization to do it. Mention how improving management can reduce turnover in the ranks.
• Performance reviews are a good time for coaching. That's when people are paying attention and anxious to know where they might need improvement. But remember to keep the coaching (and performance evaluations) separate from any discussion of compensation.
• It is better to coach those who work for you than it is to coach your boss. If your boss asks for coaching, always confine pointers and advice to business conduct ("You could have closed the deal sooner."), and avoid personal comments ("If you shaved that scruffy beard, customers would respond to you better."). Also, confine coaching to a particular area of your expertise.

Remember that successful coaching depends on the relationship forged between the employee and the coach. The best coaches can find creative solutions that may seem chancy or baffling to others. Coaching demands not just listening skills, but also flexibility, empathy, and the willingness to take risks.