KIA&B March/April 2021 | Page 16

MARKETING HUMAN RESOURCES
actual expertise . As competitive as a business can be , it is no shock confidence is necessary for success . Without confidence , an employee won ’ t feel comfortable taking any risk or go beyond basic expectations . Lack of confidence in an employee can hinder their professional growth , keeping them from reaching their full potential .
There are many ways individuals can boost confidence on their own , and educating employees on how to practice these techniques can be very beneficial . If an employee feels good about themselves , this confidence at work can help map out the best path for them in their career .
Coaching can help foster confidence by distinguishing the employee ’ s strengths and weaknesses . Identify areas where employees excel . Highlighting their strengths helps build self-worth and keeps employees from focusing too narrowly on the areas they could use improvement . While identifying weaknesses and improving upon them is necessary for personal development , make sure employees don ’ t dwell on limitations instead of finding ways to tackle these weaknesses and improve upon them .
IMPROVE EMPLOYEE RETENTION Learning or starting something new can be a nerve-racking feeling . Having a professional coach who can provide guidance makes a big difference in what an individual is willing to tackle . When employees are on-boarded and coached on new skills , they feel supported and encouraged by their manager .
Showing support for employees leads to higher retention levels , in turn creating a more positive company culture . Your employees want to feel valued and respected team members , and effective coaching can facilitate this feeling .
Like with all things , communication is vital , and with coaching , it ’ s a two-way street . As managers provide feedback to employees , employees can use that opportunity to present their input to the manager . Employees are 4.6 times more likely to stay in their current position when they feel heard . Integrating coaching into your company culture will encourage you and other managers to be more present among employees and open up communication channels across your organization ’ s levels .
ACTIVATE YOUR COACHING SKILLS Ready to improve your coaching skills as a manager ? Here are a few tips to get you started :
• Maintain a positive outlook . Positivity in the workplace leads to higher levels of productivity and increased employee happiness . Try to remove negative attitudes in the office , and everyone ’ s experience will benefit from your efforts . Lead by example , and your employees will follow suit .
• Know how to navigate conversations . Whether the conversation is regarding performance reviews or ways to inspire and motivate employees , there are many resources with tips and tricks for initiating a productive and respectful dialogue . Take time to educate yourself on best practices before talking with employees or managers .
• Ask good questions . Sometimes the most difficult questions to ask are the best ones . The healthiest company cultures are ones where leaders and employees can express opinions honestly without getting defensive .
• Listen to what they have to say and encourage them to share their opinions . Authentic and open communication is vital to success . Encourage your employees to be honest with their feedback so that improvements can be made when necessary .
• Coach in the moment . A willingness to remain adaptable is necessary for success , and being able to customize your coaching strategies will allow for a more individualized approach .
Organizations with senior leaders who coach their employees can improve business results by 21 %, compared to those who never use professional coaching . Developing effective coaches is critical to the success of your company . Allow your leaders to thrive and build a pipeline with otherwise overlooked internal talent .
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