What do your best employees want in their manager?

The best employees want managers who facilitate superior performance, growth and engagement through conversations.

It’s that simple. Managers who get busy coaching versus “bossing” win the day.

Of course, there’s a big difference between knowing what to do and doing it with excellence, consistency and discernment.

Yet, if we know what our best employees want, how do we get our managers to deliver?

Strengths-based executive coaching may the missing piece your organization didn’t know it needs.

Mentorship Isn’t Enough—Leaders Need Executive Coaching, Too, is a quick article that highlights six ways executive coaching benefits managers.

Two of my favorite ways executive coaching helps managers:

First, executive coaching helps managers get out of their own heads.

The volume of information, rapidity of change and multiple stakeholders most managers deal with on a daily basis can frustrate even the very best. Executive coaching helps managers step back and clarify competing priorities.

Think of a next-gen communications satellite versus an aluminum foil-tipped rabbit ear antenna. One image is clear and bright. The other image tends to have pixelated white noise and signal interference. Big difference.

Secondly, executive coaching helps managers uncover truth.

One way we get distracted from our key priorities is when all the “small stuff” bubbles over and obstructs the truth. The truth of a situation is in there somewhere, but it’s hard to see.

Providing managers a valuable feedback outlet like an executive coach helps keep your managers aligned with true north—for themselves, their direct reports and the larger organization.

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It’s hard to believe Q4 is already here. Weren’t we just on summer break?

Now, Charlie Brown specials are already airing and coffee shops everywhere are making small fortunes offering up limited edition pumpkin spice everythings…

Until next time, best of luck pursuing your goals and dreams using your strengths first—whether it’s managing an all-star team or running a one-person lemonade stand.

Cheers.