An important soft skill for lab managers to develop is to be a better coach for their staff. Coaching is about sharing tips, advice, and encouragement to help staff grow and develop. It is a collaborative process focused on skill growth and empowerment. It is often more about how to approach different situations and problems and less about solving a specific challenge in the lab. Good coaches are very important because they foster growth and development, which enables staff to develop and experience more success. Providing effective coaching and feedback helps to improve employee engagement, which has many benefits for the lab, including better retention, fewer safety and quality incidents, and higher discretionary effort. Here are some tips to improve as a coach:
#1 – Listen to understand
Good coaching starts with active listening. It is vital to understand the concerns, motivations, and aspirations of staff. Use open-ended questions to get more information and to encourage staff to tell their stories. Ask clarifying questions to dig deeper and to ensure that you understand what they’ve said. Listen with empathy so that they feel safe to speak things that may be difficult and to build trust. Work hard to withhold judgment. Spend your energy on ensuring a clear understanding of the situation, then look for ways that you can help.
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#2 – Provide constructive feedback
Constructive feedback is a gift. Anyone can point out problems, but only people who care will take the time and make an effort to help others learn and improve. Take the time to describe how things can be done better so that they learn new approaches, tools, and skills. The goal is that they can apply this knowledge in many different situations as they grow and develop. Balance supporting them and encouraging them with constructive suggestions for improvement. Encourage self-reflection, critical thinking, and problem-solving. This is about teaching them to fish rather than feeding them.
#3 – Empower growth
The goal is to develop autonomy and expertise. These are key elements of motivation, and consistent coaching will help you develop a stronger and more engaged staff. Look for opportunities to delegate activities that will challenge staff that are consistent with their development path. Help them develop the skills needed to exert ownership over their lab activities. Having ownership will promote studying the work more deeply and achieve higher performance through pride of ownership. Look for opportunities for staff to learn from others, both within and outside the lab. Celebrate success and support them through the challenges of learning something new.
Being a good coach provides many benefits for the lab. Perhaps the most important is the contribution of coaching and feedback to improving employee engagement. Staff with higher engagement care more about the mission and purpose of the lab, have greater motivation for the work, and drive higher performance for the lab.
