Coaching is helping an employee improve a skill set. Managing is directing an employee on what to do.
As a coach, you are helping the employee take on more responsibilities or different responsibilities. As a manager, you are managing their actions to ensure the employee is doing what he is supposed to do. This is why it is difficult for a manager to be both manager and coach to an employee.
Warren,
yes and often effective management opens the door for effective coaching.
Dr. Ryan Meers
Managing an employee involves getting them to perform a job function. Coaching an employee involves helping them to get better at their job by additional help, suggestions, instructions, observations and examples of your skills, thereby allowing them to acquire new skills and be a greater asset.Often an employee will rise to the occassion with a little help and constant job improvement becomes a way of life.
Walt,
I agree that especially in today's work environment, the balance of coaching & managing is important.
Dr. Ryan Meers
In today's work environment, employee retention is a hot topic, especially when the cost of hiring a new employee is calculated. In the workplace, the typical manager is focusing on bottom line performance of their employee. In contrast, an effective coach, makes their employee feel that the company has a vested interest in their personal and professional success. As a result, the employee is more likely to stay at their position, especially if there is an opportunity for growth within the company.
Scott,
I would agree with your thoughts in that overall managing is more involved.
Dr. Ryan Meers
I feel that coaching is more of observing and suggesting while managing is more of a directing issue.
keelan,
great synopsis of the difference between the two skill sets.
Dr. Ryan Meers
coaching is helping a person get through a situation, whether as managing is telling that person wht to do to get through a certain situation
Baneet,
I agree with you & the leader in the organization also provides benefit by developing these coaching skills.
Dr. Ryan Meers
George,
I agree that coaching can happen in the moment & has that eye on the long-term development of the employee.
Dr. Ryan Meers
A professional coach’s primary attention is to tap into the client’s own vision, wisdom and directed action in service of the client’s self-identified agenda. The client applies himself/herself to his/her whole life usually including their professional endeavors.
A manager’s primary attention is to achieve specific organizational results through their direct reports. To that end, they may direct and/or develop those direct reports through performance feedback and may use coaching skills.
Coaching is dealing the the issues here and now. Addressing the immediate issues. Managing an employee is more along deliverables not dealing with personal issues or developmental issues.
ruth,
I agree & think that often managing is more of the day to day while coaching is more planned & long-term.
Dr. Ryan Meers
yes, building and fostering trust as a mentor is one of the most valuable skills a manager can have
managing is more about measuring outcomes as apposed to coaching where one puts prep, discussion, continued dialogue and followup to truly help the coachee grow.
Todd,
well put! Coaches can come from a variety of positions & really should be a group effort.
Dr. Ryan Meers
One of the most notable differences is that a coach, unlike a manager, does not have to be a person who has any authority over the person being coached. Coaches can sometimes be peers who have been asked to coach an co-worker who is looking to help improve his performance or expand his responsibilities. Even when a manager does coach a report there is a different atmosphere to the experience. It's more of an assistance to the reports growth and performance than strictly managing people or delegating resposnsibilities. Coaching, if done correctly, should be a team effort with the goal of working together to help a person improve and/or expand their roll within a company.
Yolanda,
this is a great distinction between the two skill sets.
Dr. Ryan Meers
