A good workplace coach gives support and help to the people he or she is coaching. A good coach helps them to build change and achieve the desired objectives. This change eventually leads to professional development. It involves training employees and working with them on their specific tasks to ensure that they understand them. What are some of the qualities of a good coach in the workplace?

1. Self-awareness

How well do you understand yourself? How good is your coaching style, and how do employees receive it? These are some of the questions you need to ask yourself when testing your effectiveness as a coach.

2. Bringing issues to the attention

A good coach is specific about problem areas. Specificity fosters positive change and shows good leadership. It is, therefore, essential to bring well-defined issues to the attention of the people with whom you are dealing.

3. Well prepared for every session

It is essential to schedule coaching sessions early. A coach needs to have solid topics for the coaching sessions- well prepared with ideas, examples, and proper information. Coaching sessions will lack direction if they are not well structured.

4. Treating employees as business partners

Coaches encourage the input of individuals and trusts that they will deliver. They show respect to their mentees. Effective coaching should not have feelings of resentment.

5. Understand mentees’ weaknesses and strengths

Maximizing employee strengths makes the company get the best out of them. This focus means that employees will feel valued, hence high productivity both as a team and individually.

6. Stating clear expectations

Both the coach and the employee should understand the purpose of each session. They should agree on the target so that the meeting ends successfully.

7. Set enough time

A good coach allocates ample time for questions and concerns. This focus shows that they respect employees’ time. It also gives the employees a chance to participate fully.

8. Getting employees ideas

A good coach listens to the ideas of those he or she is coaching. They should make these ideas part of the solution.

9. Understanding the viewpoints of employees

A coach who listens to the views of employees helps them uncover the possible causes of conflicts.

10. Encourages employees

It is your role as a coach to show optimism and encouragement to employees. For instance, when discussing a topic that seems uncomfortable to the whole team, a good coach should quickly model a constructive and positive attitude for the employees to feel free to discuss it.

Coaching done with mutual respect is the most successful. Begin by showing respect to the employees, and the same will bounce back to you, and you will make a good coach in the workplace.