The Importance of Having a Great Coach
Posted on February 07, 2014 by Stefanie McGary, One of Thousands of Career Coaches on Noomii.
While we all know how important it is to have a strong team, don’t overlook the important role that a great coach plays in the success of the group.
Last weekend, many of us spent a few hours enjoying the “Big Game,” whether for the football, the commercials, or both. In sports, as in general management, hiring a strong coach for your team is extremely important to ensure the continued success of the entire group. A great coach can be the difference between effectively developing and building your team and simply going through the motions. So what are the characteristics and qualities that an exceptional leader has that others don’t?
• Integrity – Strong leaders consistently exhibit a high level of honesty and integrity. They are known for doing the “right” thing, and are able to successfully earn the trust of their employees who feel confident that they will be treated fairly and with respect.
• Caring– Great leaders genuinely care about the people on their team, both as employees and as human beings. They take an interest in the entire person, and are willing to spend time developing relationships with their employees to truly understand the issues and needs of each individual.
• Coaching – Exceptional leaders are also willing to invest the time in evaluating the strengths and weaknesses of their team members and working with them to identify and achieve their career dreams. Along the way, they offer advice, support and guidance, and reward them for a job well done.
• Encouraging Teamwork – Great leaders know that every person on the team plays a specific and important part in achieving success. Whether you answer a phone in a cubicle or sit behind a desk in an office, all members of the team must work together to complete their assigned tasks in order for the group to be successful.
• Planning and Decision Making – Exceptional leaders exhibit strong planning skills and are able to effectively create a vision and strategy for the future of the team. They have a clear idea of where they want to go, a specific game plan of how to get there, and the ability to make the decisions necessary to move the team forward.
• Communication – Strong leaders don’t just know where they want to go, they openly communicate the mission and goals to the members of their team. They understand that employees don’t need to know everything that happens behind closed doors, but they actively share information for the things that impact them directly.
Ultimately, there are multiple aspects that impact the growth and success of any team. Making sure that you have the right employees in the group, making sure they understand their roles and are committed to working toward achieving the departmental goals, and making sure they have the appropriate tools and resources to do their jobs. A great leader is tasked with ensuring that all of these needs, and many others, are consistently met. It is challenging and demanding yet extremely rewarding when it all falls into place, and having a great coach is the first step in leading your team to victory.
