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A Manager's Guide to Coaching
Book

A Manager's Guide to Coaching

Simple and Effective Ways to Get the Best From Your Employees

AMACOM, 2008 more...

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Editorial Rating

8

Qualities

  • Applicable

Recommendation

In this tremendously useful book, two seasoned executive coaches, Anne Loehr and Brian Emerson, expertly explain what coaching is, how it functions and how managers can learn to put it to work to improve employees’ productivity and morale. Often people are unaware of attitudes or behaviors that are holding them back or jeopardizing their careers. That’s where a good coach plays a crucial role. The authors delve into coaching’s methods, explain its benefits, and offer thoughtful instructions and examples. They devote the last third of the book to specific questions to ask while coaching. How you’ll react to the writing style, which is generally clear and serviceable, depends on if you think that “coachee” is a real word and that “everyone does their work” is good enough on the grammar front. Either way, this is a straightforward, practical book for managers who want to be productive coaches.

Summary

An employee’s success depends on “aptitude, attitude and resources.” Attitude matters most. In fact, a better outlook can make up for shortfalls in skills or materials.

Coaching is a billion-dollar industry, yet few businesspeople know exactly what executive coaches do. In fact, they help workers identify and repair attitudes and behaviors that hurt their productivity, so they can meet their professional goals. Managers can learn to coach their staff members. To do good work, employees need three crucial assets:

  1. “Aptitude” – The professional skills to do the job. “Aptitude is about more than someone’s innate talent”; it covers the entire toolbox a staffer brings to the job.
  2. “Attitude” – The motivation, determination and focus to work efficiently.
  3. “Available resources” – The “tools, equipment and time” to complete assigned tasks.

Most employees possess the skills they need to do their work. That’s why they have their jobs. Most organizations furnish staffers with the resources they need. However, for many reasons, employees may lose their drive. A lack of aptitude or equipment...

About the Authors

Anne Loehr and Brian Emerson are certified executive coaches. They co-founded the Safaris for the Soul leadership retreats. Emerson also heads Riverstone Endeavors, an organizational development firm.


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