Talent management: the difference between commanding and coaching

One of the main aims of HR departments is to establish internal company processes that allow as much scope as possible for the development of individual talent so each employee tries to give of their best. However, individual talent development within teams is often limited by the restrictions of obsolete processes still used in talent management. We often see a strictly commanding style of management, offering insufficient scope for the development of individual, specific personalities. This article will look at how such a style of management may be replaced by more effective coaching.

Illustration

Change in the culture of the company

According to HR Zone, changes in the leadership style of individual teams cannot be achieved without a major shift in the culture of a company. Enterprises should promote a modern style of management, nourishing individual talent and tolerating the specifics of individual employees. As with any changes in company culture, these changes too must be applied primarily to management, which in turn must serve as a role model in adhering to the new rules.

Giving space to employees

The next step is supporting team managers in giving more leeway to their employees. Many team leaders want workers who are as similar as possible to themselves and often will not tolerate differences from the demanded ideal. But this is a mistake: it is necessary that team leaders be led towards supporting the specific strengths of individual employees and giving employees room for their own creativity.

Individual attitude

One of the main differences between commanding and coaching is that commands are general: they concern all employees without exception and usually apply primarily to prohibiting things. Coaching, on the other hand, considers more the individual needs and traits of employees and supports their specific characteristics and skills. Not only employees benefit from this individual approach: so too does the company because the result is a more heterogeneous, flexible team capable of reacting to problems and unexpected changes in a more flexible way due to the arsenal of miscellaneous skills available.

Gradual changes

All the above-mentioned changes must be implemented in a natural, gradual way. If you try as the HR department to push this shift too hard, you will soon hit a brick wall and be back at square one. Changes in company culture must always be made gradually and you must ensure everybody (especially those in management) is on the same wavelength and shares the priorities of the newly implemented changes.

-mm-

Article source HR Zone - British website focused on HR
Read more articles from HR Zone