Final Words on Coaching Your Manager

Coaching your manager is a process of communication: listening, sharing, questioning, learning, shifting, and growing—all with an eye toward making your boss look great. And it is a process of self-awareness. In order to be a great coach to others, you must leave all baggage (ego, needs, turf issues) out of the equation, and you must continually choose growth over fear. Coaching focuses on what is best, what is most important, and even what is most urgent, and considers how best to respond to those things, providing you with opportunities to explore ideas and solutions you had not considered before. Ask yourself, your boss, and your team questions like

• What is next?

• Is there a solution here?

• Is this the right time to start this?

• Is there another way?

• What is possible?

• If you knew you would not fail, what would you do now?

Asking questions is sometimes hard, especially in a culture in which you are paid to have the answers rather than the questions. Yet it is that very questioning and exploring that will shift you into a healthy relationship with your boss and will create visibility, job satisfaction, and increased productivity.