Cathy Liska Whether managing people, parenting, volunteering, or participating in community events, coaching skills make leadership easier. True leadership is about empowering others and enhancing their innate skills. While it is easy to give advice and suggestions, an individual figuring out their own answer is more effective. Coaching skills are now recognized as an essential core competency for leaders.
In the workplace talent retention employee engagement, productivity, and goal achievement are driven by the effectiveness of the leaders. Developing leadership competency in an organization calls for coaching skills training. Coaching skills support team building and spread throughout the organization, ensuring the talent and processes are in place for long-term organizational success.  
Coaching helps with change. Imagine an office is going through a change in personnel that results in re-assigning duties and re-arranging work space. Without coaching skills each person focuses on telling and advocating for their ideas. With coaching skills, everyone discusses what is significant in determining work assignments and work space. In a team meeting, through questioning and sharing perspective, a coaching group explores options. Ultimately a consensus is reached so each person buys-in to the outcome. The coaching skills of understanding, asking questions, and exploring support a productive outcome.
Coaching helps deal with angry customers. Imagine someone is angry about a purchase and is vocal and disruptive. Without coaching skills, the employee explains the policy regarding the warranty and returns. With coaching skills, the employee asks the customer about their experience and what they want; if the customer wants something that is undoable, the employee asks for other possibilities. If the customer is stuck on an unreasonable option, the employee uses a technique from their coach training, “Given that I am unable to do this, what I can do is give options and let you choose what works for you now.” After providing multiple possibilities, the customer chooses an option and appreciates the outcome. The coaching skills of listening, exploring ideas, and strategizing result in calming the customer and ultimately keeping them as a customer.
Coaching supports outcomes.
- The plan’s creator owns it, buys in, and follows through.
- The success or failure of a plan belongs to the creator.
