6 Low-Lift Ways to Coach Employees in the Flow of Work

A CEO I advised once told me, “I know coaching matters. I just wish it didn’t sound so… therapeutic.” He imagined coaching as a formal interaction—scheduled, structured, and private—and like many leaders felt overwhelmed by the idea of adding yet another responsibility to his plate. Leaders are trained to solve problems and execute, but not always to pause, ask, and guide. But research has shown that while most managers don’t know how to coach people, they can learn.