Coaching Managers: Challenges and Opportunities

Name: Coaching Managers: Challenges and Opportunities
Author: Lisa Carver

Learn the challenges and opportunities of coaching managers

Preview the first lesson free — get full access to all 5 lessons.

Course: On-Demand

(bouncy music) Welcome to Coaching Managers: Challenges and Opportunities. We'll look at how to overcome some of the challenges of coaching managers. You'll also learn how to develop a coaching structure and establish coaching opportunities. Being a leader can be challenging, especially when you're coaching managers. You'll likely encounter a range of responses when coaching managers, some will be open to coaching and eager to get started, and others won't. Let's review some of the challenges you may face when coaching managers and how to overcome them. One of the biggest challenges you can face is dealing with managers who don't think they need coaching. Some managers might feel that they've made it and don't need coaching to continue to be successful. The challenge here is helping these managers see the value in being coached and having conversations about development. It's not easy for most managers to see their flaws, for you, coaching is an opportunity to gain a clear perception of both positive and negative aspects of the manager's behavior. What can you do if you want to help managers overcome their misconception that coaching isn't beneficial? You can start by building trust with them. They need to feel like they can speak with you in confidence about sensitive issues and that their comments won't be shared outside of the coaching conversation. In other words, you're building an environment of psychological safety for them. This often requires multiple meetings to build that level of trust where the manager feels comfortable in sharing shortcomings, difficult situations or unresolved conflicts with peers. The goal is for the manager to view you as a supporter, someone who wants them to succeed, and who can help guide them through difficult situations. Timing can also be a challenge when coaching managers. They're busy with deadlines to meet, meetings to attend, and tasks to handle, which can all take precedence over coaching for self-development. In a situation like this, the manager is swamped and may use their workload as an excuse to avoid coaching. Managers are more likely to make time for coaching sessions and be prepared when they feel that senior management supports coaching along with their active participation. As a manager's coach, you'll have an easier time counteracting any excuses for managers on why they don't have time for coaching if you're able to get support from company leadership. At that point, make the best use of the time you have as possible. Be prepared, adequately plan for the coaching, and make sure you have an agenda. There may be a time when you find yourself coaching a manager who isn't open to feedback or the coaching process to begin with. In this case, it's important to address this resistant attitude. Ask them if they're committed to the process. If not, determine your next best steps. You may be able to point out the benefits of coaching, listen to their concerns, address them, and continue the coaching session. However, if they don't want to actively participate and are vocal about their negative perspectives on coaching, it's time for an alternate route. Or if they make an inappropriate comment that violates company policy, you may need to escalate things to human resources. As a leader and a coach, you can only be successful to the extent that the manager is open-minded and willing to have a coaching conversation. Be prepared for a variety of responses to the coaching process and know what options you have for moving forward.

Advanced Provider : Lisa Carver 5 Lessons · 16m in Arabic, German, English, Spanish, French, Portuguese, Urdu, Chinese

Course Description

Being a leader can be challenging, especially when you’re coaching managers. As a coach, you will likely encounter a range of responses. One of the biggest obstacles you can face is working with managers who don’t think they need coaching. Some managers might feel that they’ve “made it” and don’t need coaching to continue to be successful. What can you do if you want to help managers overcome their misconception of the benefits of coaching?

In this Coaching Managers: Challenges and Opportunities course, you will learn the art of helping managers see the value in being coached and having effective conversations about development. We will cover how to create a coaching structure and establish coaching opportunities as well as best practices that will allow you to build trust and form a positive work relationship. By the end of this course, you will know how to address and overcome the challenges of coaching managers.

What You'll Learn

Identify the obstacles you may encounter when coaching managers
Help managers see the value in being coached and overcome misconceptions about coaching
Develop and create a coaching structure
Establish coaching opportunities with managers
Apply best practices for coaching managers
Conduct effective conversations about development

Key Takeaways

One of the biggest obstacles in coaching managers is working with managers who do not think they need coaching.
Some managers feel they have already "made it" and believe they do not need coaching to continue being successful.
The course teaches the art of helping managers see the value in being coached and having effective conversations about development.
Building trust and forming a positive work relationship are best practices that support coaching managers.
By the end of the course, you will know how to address and overcome the challenges of coaching managers.

Frequently Asked Questions

What will I learn in this course?

You will learn the art of helping managers see the value in being coached, how to create a coaching structure, how to establish coaching opportunities, and best practices that build trust and form a positive work relationship. The learning objectives are to identify obstacles when coaching managers, demonstrate best practices for coaching, and describe how to develop a coaching structure.

What is the biggest challenge this course addresses?

One of the biggest obstacles covered is working with managers who do not think they need coaching, including those who feel they have already "made it." The course helps you address and overcome these challenges.

What topics or lessons does the course cover?

The course includes lessons on Meeting Challenges when Coaching Managers, Developing a Coaching Structure, Establishing Coaching Opportunities, and Best Practices for Coaching Managers, followed by a Test Your Knowledge section.

What skills will I gain by the end of the course?

By the end of the course, you will know how to address and overcome the challenges of coaching managers, including helping managers see the value of coaching, building trust, and developing a coaching structure.