The Wall Street Journal article on 1.15.21, in The Future of Everything /Work section, we read that a different model of boss is emerging, a coach, and nurturer. I bet when you read that, you thought, “my job is hard enough, and now I must be a coach too?” It can be hard to pick on all the leadership trends, but if you want to prepare yourself for the future, where automation will replace some of the managerial tasks and work, your role will shift more to the human side, the emotionally intelligent side, the coaching of people vs. managing- tasks- side. In fact, the article states that by 2024, automation and AI (Artificial Intelligence) will replace much of the manager’s workload. That is right around the corner.
Organizations are flattening, eliminating middle managers. At the same time the span of control is growing. Many of the leaders I coach manage increasingly more direct reports. It is getting overwhelming at times. They feel something must give. When it gives, they finally realize that they could have shifted from manager to leader as coach a long time ago, that they, in fact, manage people and processes and those people, in fact, manage the work.
6 Steps toward evolving into leader as coach:
1. First, learn to build better relationships with your subordinates
2. Notice trust starting to grow in both directions
3. Delegate more whole projects than tasks to your team
4. Start letting go of things, empowering your teams
5. Check in with direct reports as they grow and develop
6. Your teams will start contributing more to the business
Once you master this, you’ll discover you have more free time to think, plan, be strategic, build those important relationships with stakeholders and slay the next organizational dragons. In your evolution from manager to leader, you will learn that while checking in with direct reports, you will be using more coaching skills to support them. You will learn how to get the best work from people. You’ll tap into their magic, into their passions.
5 strong social skills required of leaders
1. Listening skills
2. Asking open ended questions (which give space to the other person to learn and explore)
3. Being fully present
4. Sustaining trust
5. Leading change
If you want to thrive in the future, take a look at these emotionally intelligent, social skills necessary for collaboration, coaching and developing your team. Call us to learn more.
READ THE FULL STORY in Wall Street Journal online (WSJ subscription required)
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Contact me at sshapiro@onpoint-leadership.com if you want help with strategies to improve your leadership.