[Supervisor Success: Mastering People Skills & Cultivating High-Performing Teams is a monthly series from UCOR’s Human Resources Manager Mary Alice Douglass designed to support front line supervisors.]
Coaching is a powerful way for you to help your team members grow, tap into their full potential, and reach their career goals. Instead of just telling them what to do, coaching means asking great questions, really listening, and guiding them to find their own solutions and learn from their experiences. It transforms your role from just a director to more of a facilitator.
Great coaching starts with understanding your team members’ strengths, areas they want to improve, and what they aspire to. Create a safe space where they can talk openly, reflect on their work, and take ownership of their development. Give them timely, specific feedback, and encourage them to step out of their comfort zones.
Try this: In your next one-on-one, when a team member brings a problem, resist the urge to tell them exactly what to do. Instead, ask open-ended questions like, “What are your thoughts on how to approach this?” or “What options have you considered?”
Also, try this: Work with one team member to identify a specific skill they want to improve. Then, together, outline a short plan for how they can practice it and get your feedback.
Avoid this: Don’t just give orders; that cuts off their ability to solve problems themselves. And don’t make assumptions about what people can or can’t do without asking questions and truly understanding their perspective.
You can find the entire series of Supervisor Success articles on the Human Resources space of UCOR Hub.
