Lead People, Manage Things, and Coach to Success

Leaders lead and managers manage, right? While some may argue semantics, there is a difference between the two. The addition of good coaching into the mix can also help an organization reach their true potential.

For those in leadership roles, your resolve and vision is tested every day. When things are going well for your business, leading can almost look easy. Planning and having a strategic vision are important tools for leaders in any business, even more so when the climate is less predictable and filled with uncertainty. Effective leadership sets the tone and the direction for the business in both good and challenging times. Effective leaders don’t take the direction of the business for granted and do not leave it to chance.

A major success factor in any organization is in its ability to execute each day. That’s where managing plays a vital role. Process and procedures, solving problems and maintaining performance standards are all part of managing a business. “Making sure the trains run on time,” is an expression I often use to help define what managing is. Effective managing plays a vital role in the organizations ability to deliver a positive, repeatable experience that meets the expectations of all stakeholders. Good managers create and support the tools and workflows needed for their teams to excel. 

So where does coaching come in? Coaching plays an important role in your organization, and can be that vital third dimension leading to your success. Coaching can take several forms. I view it as the things you do to encourage, instruct and provide feedback. You encourage when your team needs to be reassured that they are doing the right things. The instruction comes to play when the expectations either haven’t been clear or aren’t being met. Feedback can be a softly spoken “thanks for all that you do.” The feedback can also be a one on one discussion that lets the employee know that they are not meeting expectations, and then working together to create a path forward. The coaching activities support, and is sometimes the glue that solidifies the managerial and leadership efforts within the organization.

Take the time to work on these three pillars of organizational excellence for both yourself, as well as the leaders on your team. I welcome any thoughts or questions, please add them below or reach out to me directly.

Mike Philie can help validate what’s working and what may need to change in your business. Changing the trajectory of a business is difficult to do while simultaneously operating the core competencies. Mike provides strategy and insight to owners and CEOs in the Graphic Communications Industry by providing direct and realistic counsel, not being afraid to voice the unpopular opinion and helping leaders navigate change through a common sense and practical approach. Learn more at www.philiegroup.com, LinkedIn or email at mphilie@philiegroup.com.