Can You Be a More Coachable Employee?

It’s competitive out there. And most of us want to keep growing professionally and standing out.

And, of course, there are plenty of ways to do that — taking courses, reading, asking for new assignments and pushing ourselves.

Behind the scenes, our bosses and organizations also want us to keep growing. And they’re getting advice and pressure on how to best do that.

Coaching is one effective way.

When your boss is coaching you, they’re helping you learn, innovate and make solid decisions on your own when needed. They’re empowering you.

“My boss isn’t empowering me,” you may be thinking. And if that’s the case, there’s an important question you should be asking yourself:

 

“Am I being coachable?”

In the world of youth sports a coachable player is someone “open to advice or criticism in order to develop their craft/skills,” according to kidsinthegame.com. That means no eye rolls, no protests and no excuses.  In the world of high school sports and becoming a better recruit, there’s advice for moving beyond “raw talent” and having the right attitude, according to usatodayhss.com. College coaches want athletes they can develop.

In business, the same is true. Certainly, you must be knowledgeable and skilled. But to improve, “you must be vulnerable enough to know you’re not perfect; open to honest feedback and work actively to change bad habits.” A willingness to listen and learn is critical.

 

Are you a boss who would like to learn more about coaching? Register for our live, virtual seminar: The Supervisor’s Role as Trainer & Coach.

 

How will you recognize it if you’re being “coached?”

When coaching, your boss will be asking questions instead of telling you exactly what to do. This can be a hard transition for bosses and employees alike. If you come to your boss for advice or answers and you’re new, they’ll likely tell you what to do. But, if you’re experienced, they may greet your questions … with questions. “What are we trying to do?” “What’s not working?” “What do you think you should do next?”

Another key coaching tactic is to review work that’s been accomplished and consider what was effective and what wasn’t. “What would you do differently if you faced the same project again?” That’s a coaching question. And it’s a good one that will help you learn and approach the situation differently next time.

 

What can you do to make yourself more coachable?

Making decisions on your own, taking criticism to heart — these things that make you more coachable take courage. You will be vulnerable. You might make mistakes. You might not agree with feedback you get. You can also help encourage coaching by asking for feedback, asking for opportunities to “solo” and doing it in a way that helps your boss in the loop and informed.

 

Organizations are navigating disruption and change in a big way right now. They need employees who want to learn and grow. They need a coachable team.

 

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