Business leaders and managers are under constant pressure as they lead their teams through the relentless turmoil of today. While the 21st century workplace has no relief from the technology-driven disruptions that occur on a daily basis, it is struggling with hybrid jobs against the backdrop of the global recession. It is arguable that a standard set of management skills will not help them meet this deadline, and neither will traditional management styles.
Management style and the attitude and approach of individual managers can greatly affect a business and its employees on many levels. As they face new challenges with new employees across the board, businesses are desperate for leaders who are adept at more progressive leadership styles. As leaders gain experience, they develop differences in their management styles, often unconsciously based on their natural traits and strengths. Some are clearly people-oriented, while others can be decidedly results-oriented. Those leaders and managers with coaching skills are able to bridge the gap, motivating their team members to do their best to collaboratively accomplish the company’s goals.
The coaching management system is tailored to the needs of the 4iR workplace for different skill sets and organizational characteristics. The importance of embedded coaching skills in an organization is recognized. As younger generations dominate today’s workforce, coachable managers have a distinct advantage. Both the millennial and Gen Z cohorts place a high value on having skilled managers to actively support their career development and succeed.
Nikki Wilson-Harris, Integral® and Ontological Coach and Trainer at SACAP (South African College of Applied Psychology) says, “The coaching style of management is a significant change from the outdated command-and-control style of leadership. It allows managers to collaborate with their team members to find optimal solutions. It increases engagement, ignites opportunities and fosters accountability. It also empowers leaders to positively shape company culture and promote a diverse and inclusive workplace. This is especially important in building a strong employer brand to attract and then retain top talent.
SACAP is a long-standing leader in coaching education in South Africa. An internationally recognized short course, Coaching Skills for Managers is a 12-week part-time study designed specifically for business leaders, managers and operational professionals.
Coaching includes acquiring superior communication skills, where managers develop the art of questioning and active listening. A coachable manager knows how to facilitate motivational conversations where his team members think for themselves and make meaningful contributions. In this dynamic, the team leader is well aware that they should not be the ones providing all the answers, as it is often the team members at the coal face who have the best ideas on how to solve a problem. The manager-coach effectively takes on the role of leading the team to collaborative solutions with high performance impacts.
For managers and business leaders, education in coaching is personally transformative. When you learn how to help people develop self-confidence and self-motivation, openness and commitment, responsibility and a willingness to act, they will practice these qualities in their own lives and gain a greater and more valuable understanding of self and others.
Enrollment is now open for the fully accredited 12-week SACAP Training Skills for Managers course, with the program commencing on 8 August 2022.
