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Kris Plachy

Do you (or do you want to) manage employees? Have you ever wondered how to get better performance out of those you manage? Are you unsure if you are communicating effectively with your employees? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this course – and its associated specialization – is for you!

Leadership and management responsibilities have changed dramatically, particularly in the last decade. In order to be an effective manager in increasingly fast-paced and complex organizational environments, coaching has become essential.

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Do you (or do you want to) manage employees? Have you ever wondered how to get better performance out of those you manage? Are you unsure if you are communicating effectively with your employees? If you answered “yes” to any of these questions, then this course – and its associated specialization – is for you!

Leadership and management responsibilities have changed dramatically, particularly in the last decade. In order to be an effective manager in increasingly fast-paced and complex organizational environments, coaching has become essential.

In this course, you will learn what coaching is and learn how to differentiate between it and all of the other myriad roles managers are expected to perform – managing, mentoring, leading, and training. You’ll learn about the importance of strong leadership and learn to describe your current point of view as a leader, and evaluate when to adjust your thinking in order to be more effective in managing and leading in a rapidly evolving workplace.

And finally, you’ll be introduced to the Thought Model, a coaching technique you can use to develop better thinkers and better performers. So if you’re ready to learn all about how to be a more effective and valued manager using coaching techniques, join us as we explore more successful managing through coaching!

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What's inside

Syllabus

Course Introduction & What is Coaching?
This module defines coaching as well as the 4 other roles modern managers are expected to play in their organizations: leader, manager, mentor, and trainer. Many examples are provided to help illustrate each role and common pitfalls associated with the overuse of each role will be covered. The module wraps up with a comparison of all the roles managers have and then asks you to identify and explain why you would go to one role over another in particular situations.
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Traffic lights

Read about what's good
what should give you pause
and possible dealbreakers
Explores modern changes in managing and coaching practices in organizations
Analyzes different roles of managers such as leading, managing, mentoring, and training
Provides a framework for understanding and applying the Thought Model in coaching
Introduces the importance of developing basic coaching skills for managers
Examines the influence of one's experiences and beliefs on management approaches
Offers practical exercises and peer review assignments to enhance understanding of coaching techniques

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Reviews summary

Managing as a coach: skills and applications

According to learners, this course provides a clear foundation in distinguishing the various hats a modern manager wears, such as manager, coach, mentor, and trainer. Many found the module on Points of View of Leadership and the introduction to the Thought Model to be particularly insightful and useful for reframing their approach to leadership. While the course is praised for its well-structured content and clear explanations, some students felt it was heavy on theory and wished for more opportunities for practical application. The peer review assignment received mixed feedback, with some reviewers finding the quality of feedback inconsistent. Overall, it is often recommended as highly valuable for new managers.
Highly valuable for those new to managing roles.
"This course is perfect if you are new to a management role or considering one."
"As someone transitioning into leadership, I found this invaluable for building my foundation."
"More experienced managers might find some parts basic, but it's a great starting point."
Provides a useful framework for analysis and coaching.
"The Thought Model provides a powerful framework for understanding thinking."
"I found the Thought Model quite insightful for changing my perspective on situations."
"Applying the Thought Model was a bit challenging at first, but eventually very useful in practice."
Clearly differentiates core manager responsibilities.
"The course really helped clarify the differences between managing, coaching, mentoring, and training."
"I finally understand when to wear which hat!"
"Excellent breakdown of the various hats a modern manager wears and when to use them."
Consistency of feedback varies greatly.
"The peer review section was hit or miss depending on who reviewed my work."
"Found the peer feedback not very helpful for improvement."
"The peer review is a good idea for practice, but the execution and quality varies widely among participants."
Strong theoretical base, less emphasis on practice.
"While the concepts are great, I wish there were more practical exercises or case studies."
"The course is heavy on theory; applying it requires extra effort outside the modules."
"I learned the framework, but feel I need more hands-on scenarios to truly master the skills."

Activities

Be better prepared before your course. Deepen your understanding during and after it. Supplement your coursework and achieve mastery of the topics covered in Managing as a Coach with these activities:
Review Introduction to Management Principles
Reinforce your understanding of foundational management concepts
Browse courses on Management
Show steps
  • Review the functions of management, including planning, organizing, leading, and controlling
  • Summarize the different management theories and models
  • Identify the key skills and characteristics of effective managers
  • Reflect on your own management style and identify areas for improvement
Create a Management Skills Self-Assessment
Develop self-awareness of your management skills and identify areas for growth
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  • Identify the key management skills and behaviors
  • Create a questionnaire or checklist to assess your proficiency in each skill
  • Complete the self-assessment and reflect on your results
  • Develop a plan to address any areas where you need improvement
Review 'The Coaching Habit' by Michael Bungay Stanier
Gain insights into the practical techniques of coaching
Show steps
  • Read the book and summarize the key principles of coaching
  • Identify the different types of coaching questions and their uses
  • Practice using the coaching questions in real-world situations
Five other activities
Expand to see all activities and additional details
Show all eight activities
Attend a Management Coaching Peer Group
Connect with other managers and share experiences and best practices
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Show steps
  • Find or start a peer group of managers
  • Set up regular meetings to discuss management challenges
  • Share ideas, support, and feedback with other group members
Practice Active Listening Techniques
Enhance your communication skills and build trust with employees
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Show steps
  • Identify the key principles of active listening
  • Practice active listening skills in mock conversations
  • Receive feedback from others on your active listening abilities
Develop a Coaching Plan for a Direct Report
Apply your coaching skills to develop and support your team
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Show steps
  • Identify the individual's development needs and goals
  • Create a coaching plan that outlines specific coaching sessions and outcomes
  • Implement the coaching plan and track progress regularly
  • Provide feedback and support to the individual throughout the coaching process
Mentor a Junior Manager
Share your knowledge and experience to help others grow and develop
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Show steps
  • Identify a junior manager who would benefit from your guidance
  • Establish a regular meeting schedule and create a mentoring agreement
  • Provide support, advice, and feedback on the manager's development
  • Celebrate the manager's successes and help them navigate challenges
Contribute to an Open-Source Management Tool
Apply your management knowledge to real-world projects and enhance your technical skills
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Show steps
  • Identify an open-source management tool that aligns with your interests
  • Review the project's documentation and codebase
  • Contribute bug fixes, features, or improvements to the project
  • Collaborate with other contributors and participate in the community

Career center

Learners who complete Managing as a Coach will develop knowledge and skills that may be useful to these careers:
Learning and Development Manager
Effective Learning and Development Managers deploy many of the same skills that expert coaches utilize, including the ability to listen attentively, empathize, and observe and grow over time. In particular, the Thought Model described in this course can help Learning and Development Managers better facilitate and direct professional growth across an organization.
Human Resources Business Partner
Like effective coaches, successful Human Resources Business Partners require exceptional communication and interpersonal skills to foster relationships and develop a deep understanding of business issues that may impact an organization’s employees. This course provides a strong foundation for building these skills.
Career Counselor
Of course, this course is exceptionally useful to those who wish to become Career Counselors themselves. Coaching is a core tool that Career Counselors leverage in order to help their clients evaluate career goals and develop plans to achieve them.
Leadership Coach
This course may be useful to Leadership Coaches, as it introduces a number of skills that help develop great leadership in others. For example, the Thought Model is an exceptional tool for Leadership Coaches to leverage in their practice.
Management Consultant
Skills developed in this course translate well to the role of Management Consultant. Coaching is a key tool in helping organizations make improvements. Consultants may also find the Thought Model helpful as they work with clients around identifying and solving problems.
Executive Coach
Executive Coaches who support business leaders in refining their communication and leadership skills may find this course helpful. The Thought Model, in particular, is a key coaching tool that participants can apply directly in their work.
Change Manager
Coaching is central to Change Management. Change Managers who wish to leverage coaching in their work may find that this course provides helpful skills and frameworks that can be directly applied in their roles.
Organizational Development Consultant
Organizational Development Consultants may find this course useful as it can help them build their coaching skills. These skills are key to Organizational Development Consultants who are tasked with improving organizational effectiveness and employee engagement.
Training and Development Specialist
Training and Development Specialists who wish to enhance their training and development skills may find this course useful. In particular, the Thought Model can help these professionals develop better training and development plans.
Talent Manager
Talent Managers can benefit from this course by learning about the Thought Model, which Talent Managers can leverage in developing and training their teams. This course may also be useful for Talent Managers who want to build stronger relationships with employees.
Team Leader
This course emphasizes the importance of creating a shared point of view, a critical component of high-performing teams. Team Leaders can use the Thought Model to effectively facilitate team discussions and decision-making processes while fostering a culture of innovation and collaboration.
Manager
Managers can benefit from the coaching skills taught in this course. Coaching is an effective way to help employees develop their skills and reach their full potential. In particular, this course may be useful for Managers who want to improve their communication and interpersonal skills.
Supervisor
Supervisors who wish to improve their leadership and employee development skills may find this course helpful. This course can help Supervisors learn and apply the Thought Model, which can be used to help employees think more critically and solve problems.
Executive
Executives may find this course useful as it can help them develop coaching and leadership skills. Additionally, Executives may find that the Thought Model is a useful tool that can be applied to strategic thinking and decision-making.
Vice President
Vice Presidents may find this course helpful as it can help them develop their leadership skills and their understanding of organizational development. Additionally, Vice Presidents may find that the Thought Model is a useful tool that can be applied to strategic thinking and decision-making.

Reading list

We've selected 23 books that we think will supplement your learning. Use these to develop background knowledge, enrich your coursework, and gain a deeper understanding of the topics covered in Managing as a Coach.
Provides a comprehensive overview of coaching and its application in the workplace, offering practical tips and techniques for managers and leaders.
Provides a comprehensive overview of coaching for performance, including the principles, skills, and tools needed to be an effective coach. It is particularly useful for managers who want to learn how to coach their employees to achieve better results.
Classic in the field of coaching and provides a practical guide to using coaching to improve performance. It is particularly useful for managers who are looking to develop their coaching skills.
Comprehensive guide to co-active coaching, a collaborative approach to coaching that emphasizes partnership and equality. It provides a step-by-step process for coaching others, as well as tools and techniques for building rapport, asking powerful questions, and facilitating change.
Provides a comprehensive guide to coaching as a management style, covering topics such as building trust, setting expectations, and developing employees.
This classic book on personal and professional development provides a framework for living a more effective and fulfilling life. It offers principles and practices that can help you improve your leadership skills, build strong relationships, and achieve your goals.
Provides a practical guide for managers on how to coach their employees. It provides tips and advice on how to create a coaching culture and how to coach for success.
This classic book on leadership provides insights into how leaders can inspire and motivate their teams to achieve extraordinary results.
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Explores the science of motivation and provides insights into how managers can create work environments that foster employee engagement.
Provides a comprehensive guide to the art of coaching. It covers the principles of coaching, the different types of coaching, and how to coach for success.
Provides a framework for effective leadership, based on 21 universal laws. It offers practical advice and examples that can help you improve your leadership skills.
Explores the concept of emotional intelligence and its importance in leadership. It offers tools and techniques for developing your emotional intelligence and using it to improve your leadership effectiveness.
This comprehensive manual provides a detailed overview of the coaching process, including techniques, exercises, and ethical considerations.
Fable about a team that is struggling to perform. It identifies five dysfunctions that are common in teams and provides practical advice for overcoming them.
Provides a structured approach to helping others solve problems and achieve their goals, which is foundational to effective coaching.
Introduces appreciative inquiry, a strengths-based approach to coaching and organizational development.

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