How to coach your boss - Part 2

In part 2 of our mini-series on 'How to coach your boss', let's focus on 5 ways how we can use professional coaching skills to improve interactions with our Manager.

1️⃣ Empathetic Listening and Summarization: Show genuine curiosity and empathy by attentively listening and summarizing, before engaging further in content. For example, if your boss expresses concerns about meeting project deadlines, react with, "If I understand you correctly, you are most worried about the project timeline and the impact on our Q1 budget. Is that correct?"

2️⃣ Mirroring Language Thoughtfully: Use your boss's words and expressions to show alignment with their perspective. If your boss often says, "We need to think outside the box," incorporate this phrase when suggesting creative solutions: "I would like to offer an idea here that is often seen outside the box. May I share?"

3️⃣ Neutral Observations Using the STAR Model: Provide feedback using the Situation, Task, Action, Result format to stay out of emotional judgment and keep things factual. For instance, if your boss' decision led to a successful outcome, you might say, "3 weeks ago we faced stakeholder backlash (Situation). We wanted to clarify our position (Task). I noticed you jumped on the email trail 3 times and supported our solution directly (Action). That way our stakholder saw that what we did was an agreed and supported action and it allowed us to move on in a calmer way. Thanks again for this (Result)."

4️⃣ Clear and Concise Communication: Be straightforward in your interactions. If you're proposing a new idea, instead of a long-winded explanation, say something like, "I propose we adopt a new software tool to improve 1 thing: workflow efficiency. I estimate it will save us approximately two hours per week. I am excited! What are your thoughts about it?"

5️⃣ Balanced Feedback and Support: Combine respectful feedback with supportive suggestions. If your boss is struggling with a decision, you might say, "I see you're weighing different options for the marketing strategy, is that right? I wonder if in your position it makes also sense to consider option C? I see a direct way how this could assist in your conversation with the customer. May I explain?" This is especially powerful, as it directly attempts to 'walk' in the Manager's shoes.

What's your best way to positively influence leaders futher up in your corporate pyramid? 🔺