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A guide to management coaching for leaders

It’s a common problem in the workplace. An employee excels at their job and gets promoted to a management position. The only issue? In fact, most managers barely receive any formal training for their new role. This leads to frustration for them and their teams, creating a gap between knowing what to do and actually doing it effectively.

While instructor-led programs build knowledge, that isn’t the same as changing behavior. Management coaching is the solution that bridges this gap. It’s a personalized process designed to help leaders integrate new skills and apply them in their everyday performance.

What is management coaching?

Management coaching is a personalized development process that helps leaders improve their skills, performance, and impact on their teams. It is a partnership focused on unlocking a manager's potential and helping them build the capabilities they need to succeed.

Management coaching vs training vs mentoring

It's important to distinguish coaching from other forms of development, as they each serve a different purpose. While there is certainly an overlap in management skills, the approach is different.

• Training teaches knowledge and skills–the "what." It's effective for learning a new software or a specific process.

• Mentoring is when a more experienced person shares wisdom from their own career–the "who." A mentor gives advice based on what worked for them.

• Coaching develops capability–the "how." A coach doesn't give answers. Instead, they help individuals discover their own solutions and integrate new behaviors into their leadership style.

How to choose the right management coach or program

This is the most important section for any leader considering coaching. Following a clear process will help you find the right fit for your specific needs.

First decide between coaching for an individual or a team

The first decision is to determine the focus of the coaching. Individual coaching is centered on a single leader's development and performance. Team coaching, on the other hand, aims to improve the collective performance, dynamics, and communication of an entire group. Allowing a whole team access to leadership coaching can be a powerful way to improve business outcomes.

Define your primary coaching goals

Effective coaching is always tailored to specific outcomes. Before you begin your search, it’s important to define what you want to achieve. A coach will work with you to set these goals during your initial meeting, but having a clear idea beforehand is helpful. Common goals include developing leadership skills, improving team performance, or learning to manage conflict more effectively.

Find coaching for the right management level

The needs of a new manager are very different from those of a senior executive. Good coaching programs recognize this and tailor their approach to the individual's management level. With the right skill set, leaders at any level can confidently guide their teams to new levels of productivity. For senior leaders, executive coaching often focuses on high-level strategy and vision.

Compare virtual vs in-person coaching

Discussing the pros and cons of each format is essential. In-person coaching offers face-to-face interaction, but it limits your choice of coaches to your local area. Virtual coaching provides flexibility and gives you access to a wider pool of specialized coaches, which is especially beneficial for remote teams. Platforms like MentorCruise make it easy to find a vetted, high-quality management coach from anywhere in the world.

The management coaching process and models

To demystify what happens in a coaching engagement, it helps to understand the typical stages and frameworks involved.

The stages of a typical coaching engagement

While every program is tailored, most professional coaching engagements follow a structured process.

1. Initial meeting & chemistry check The first step is an initial meeting between the coach and the candidate. This is a critical moment to see if there is "chemistry" and if the coach's style is a good fit.

2. Goal setting & assessment During this stage, the coach and client work together to define success. This involves an in-depth discussion about the areas where the manager wants to improve and setting clear, measurable goals.

3. Coaching sessions This is the core of the work. The coach’s style is often to pose questions that lead the employee to find their own answers. The goal is to create a safe environment to practice what they’ve learned and integrate new skills.

4. Review & measurement At the end of the engagement, both sides review the process to evaluate progress against the goals set at the beginning.

The benefits and ROI of management coaching

Focusing on tangible outcomes is essential to building a business case for coaching.

How management coaching benefits employees and the company

When managers improve, the benefits extend to their entire team. Effective coaching leads to better communication, higher productivity, and increased employee engagement. This, in turn, has a direct impact on employee retention, as supported and well-managed teams are more likely to stay.

How to measure the ROI of your coaching investment

Measuring the return on investment (ROI) of coaching is a primary concern for business leaders. ROI is tracked by measuring progress against the initial goals. This can include metrics like project completion rates, improvements in employee satisfaction scores, or hitting specific sales targets.

Ready to develop your leaders?

Professional coaching helps your people take a giant step forward in their growth. A partnership with the right coach can help your managers integrate new skills and achieve their business goals.

Explore the management coaches on MentorCruise to find a partner who is ready to help your leaders and your business thrive.