The Leader as Coach: Practical Tools for Mentoring and Coaching Excellence

The Leader as Coach: Practical Tools for Mentoring and Coaching Excellence

Skill Level: Intermediate to Advanced

Course Overview: 

Designed to transform managers and professionals into highly effective coaches and mentors, focusing on human-centered developmental practices. The course centers on building critical communication skills and applying widely-recognized coaching models like GROW and CLEAR to daily interactions. Participants will gain the practical, rapid expertise needed to unlock employee potential, improve performance, foster a culture of continuous learning, and directly contribute to talent retention and succession planning by mastering strategic coaching and mentoring techniques. It is ideal for current and aspiring leaders who need to quickly embed impactful developmental conversations into their daily practice.

Course Objectives:

1. Differentiate clearly between the roles, processes, and ethical boundaries of coaching, mentoring, and counseling to ensure appropriate intervention.

2. Apply foundational coaching models (e.g., GROW, CLEAR) to facilitate structured, high-impact developmental conversations that lead to specific action.

3. Master core communication techniques, including active listening, powerful questioning, and constructive feedback, to build trust and psychological safety.

4. Design and implement targeted mentoring approaches, including reverse and peer mentoring, to address specific developmental needs.

5. Utilize coaching and mentoring principles as essential tools for immediate performance improvement and enhancing employee engagement.

6. Develop a personal coaching and mentoring style that is inclusive, culturally aware, and immediately applicable in the workplace.

7. Evaluate the short-term effectiveness of coaching and mentoring efforts using practical feedback mechanisms.

8. Promote a sustainable culture of coaching within their teams, driven by a growth mindset, by the end of the second day.

   
   

Course Outline: 

Module 1: Foundations and The Coaching Toolkit

1. Defining Developmental Roles: Coaching vs. Mentoring

2. The Leader's Role: Building Trust and Psychological Safety

3. The GROW Model: A Step-by-Step Guide to Goal-Oriented Coaching

4. Advanced Practice: Powerful Questioning and Active Listening

Module 2: Impactful Feedback and Immediate Application

1. The CLEAR Model: Coaching In-the-Moment and On-the-Job

2. Delivering Constructive Feedback for Behavioral Change

3. Integrating Coaching into Routine Performance Conversations

4. Practical Session: Coaching Role-Plays and Peer Feedback

Module 3:  Strategic Mentoring and Program Design

1. Building Effective Mentoring Relationships and Setting Expectations

2. Exploring Modern Models: Reverse Mentoring and Peer Mentoring

3. Using Mentoring for Career Development and Succession Planning

4. Addressing Common Challenges in Mentoring and Coaching Relationships

Module 4: Culture, Evaluation, and Action Plan

1. Fostering a Growth Mindset and Accountability in Teams

2. Coaching Through Conflict and Managing Difficult Situations

3. Measuring and Evaluating the Short-Term Success of Developmental Initiatives

4. Action Learning: Developing a Personalized 2-Day Action Plan for Implementation