Leader as a Coach

The future of work is being shaped by extraordinary changes in technology, globalization and overwhelming information flow. The Gen-Y wants a coach, not a boss. They want clear expectations, accountability, a rich purpose, and they especially want ongoing feedback and coaching. This clearly indicates that the Coaching Styles of Leadership is most suited in present times. If knowledge were all it took, we’d all be incredible managers, teachers, parents, and performers. But obviously we’re not. The biggest obstacle in performance isn’t not knowing what to do; it’s not doing what we know. Most people who want to get better- at hitting cricket strokes, negotiating with clients, delivering presentations, or any other field of endeavor- seek out new information. This “outside-in” approach often doesn’t produce the results people want. More information becomes a distraction rather than a solution, and high performance remains elusive. The need of the hour is to remove the obstacles that get in the way of applying the skills and knowledge we already have. The key is unlocking what we call Faith, Fire, and Focus: confidence in our ability, high energy and passion, and focused attention on the things that really matter. The young employees in modern organizations do not prefer to be micro-managed. ‘Focus’, ‘Faith’ and ‘Fire’ are the innate characteristics of any child. These when coupled with knowledge give rise to capabilities. Setting SMART goals, aligning them to the realities of the external environment, choosing the best among available options and working towards the proper implementation of the path picked define a leader’s character and his/her leadership acumen.