A manager wears many hats throughout the day. One hat that every manager should always have on is a coaching and development hat. That is the core responsibility of this role: to coach and develop employees. That being said, the following are actions every manager should be taking in their daily work.
Provide Clear, Actionable Feedback
Feedback is critical when it comes to the development of employees. Research from Officevibe (an online leadership learning platform) shows that two-thirds of employees actually want more feedback, and 83 percent say the feedback they get isn’t helpful. How can you keep your employees from feeling the same way? Give clear, actionable feedback and give it often. Do research on how to best deliver feedback.
Teach Them in Teachable Moments
If there is a theme in management, it would be development and growth. To that point, you should constantly be aware of possible teachable moments. Teachable moments are different than regular coaching and development because it needs to happen either in the moment or directly after. For example, if you notice your employee not putting forth their best effort, call them into your office and talk about it right then and there.
Care About Their Careers
Don’t be afraid to have conversations with your employees about their careers and career goals. Have conversations with them about the steps they would need to take in order to reach their goals and guide them. In addition, you need to be an advocate for your employees. When a position within the company opens up, let your employee know that you think they’d be a great fit (if you do).
Communicate
In addition to coaching and developing, communication is likely the next most important skill of a manager. As you communicate, make sure you are being clear and consistent. Don’t be extremely communicative one week and totally silent the next. Find your communication style and stick to it. The more you communicate with your team members, the more you will instill the value and importance of communication in the workplace.
As a manager, you are charged with the growth and development of your team members, among many other things. In order to do so, you must provide clear and actionable feedback, teach in teachable moments and truly care about them and their career.
