I recall a prime example of coaching I received part-way through my leadership career.
I was in a new role in which one of my teams included over a dozen software testers. Most of them came to us through a relationship with a contracting company and lived on the other side of the globe.
One of our challenges was that we would train a new team member on our software, and just as they started to understand it, they would leave for another assignment.
My boss gave me feedback on the impact that this team’s attrition was having on our product. But these weren’t our employees. We had tried complaining about turnover to the contracting company, but we didn’t see much change. I didn’t know what else we could do.
To his credit, my boss didn’t simply tell me what else to do. Instead, he said, “Steve, your offshore contractors want the same thing your full-time employees want.”
❤️ They want to know that they’re doing work that matters.
❤️ They want to know that they matter.
Then he asked me a powerful question:
“What are you doing to show them that?”
Honestly, I hadn’t done anything.
Like a good coach, my boss left the details to me on how I was going to address the issue, while staying available to share from his experience when I needed it. And like a good coach, he encouraged me to share what I was doing and to be consistent in implementing my plan.
Over the next year, the attrition rate for that team reduced by 80%.
That’s the kind of results that good coaching can help you receive. If you have a good coach in in your company, be grateful. If you don’t, then let’s talk.
Visit https://stevedwire.com/connect to schedule a complimentary conversation on any leadership challenge or opportunity you’re facing right now. I look forward to the opportunity to talk with you.
Leave a Reply