Published March 02, 2025

Becoming a great coach while managing a small business involves balancing leadership with a coaching mindset.

Managing is all about overseeing tasks, meeting deadlines, and ensuring the organization runs smoothly. Managers set goals, delegate responsibilities and track process to keep things on track.

Coaching, on the other hand, is more personal and developmental. A coach helps individuals improve their skills, achieve personal growth and find solutions to challenges. They focus on mentoring, providing feedback and encouraging self-discovery and empowerment. Managers focus on what and when, while coaches focus on how and why, fostering growth and development with the individual.

To move from manager to coach, consider these skills that need to be present to be a great coach.

Develop Active Listening Skills — Focus on listening more than speaking to understand the needs and concerns of your team members or clients. Use reflective listening by summarizing what they say to show that you’re engaged and understand their perspectives.

Set Clear Goals and Expectations — Define specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART) goals with your team or clients. Make sure everyone understands their role in achieving these goals and how they contribute to the overall success of the business.

Foster a Growth Mindset - Encourage continuous learning and improvement in both your team and yourself. Celebrate progress, not just results, and emphasize that mistakes are opportunities for learning.

Be Empathetic - Being able to put yourself in someone else’s shoes helps you connect with them on a deeper level and build trust. Show genuine concern for their challenges and celebrate their successes.

Offer Constructive Feedback Regularly - Give feedback in real-time or as close to the event as possible so it’s relevant and impactful. Focus on behaviors and outcomes rather than personal traits, and always frame feedback in a way that motivates improvement.

Lead by Example - Model the behaviors and values you want to see in your team, such as accountability, integrity, and resilience. Show your commitment to the business’s vision and goals, and demonstrate a positive attitude even when challenges arise.

Be Patient and Display Emotional Intelligence - Coaching is a process that takes time, and you will need patience to help others learn and grow at their own pace. Emotional intelligence allows you to manage your own emotions while understanding and responding to the emotions of others.

Empower Your Team - Delegate responsibilities and give your team the autonomy to make decisions within their roles. Trust your team members and provide them with the resources and support they need to succeed.

Problem-Solving and Decision-Making - Guide your team or clients through challenges by helping them explore possible solutions and make informed decisions. Encourage critical thinking and help them develop the skills to solve problems independently.

Build Strong Relationships- Take the time to get to know each team member individually, understanding their strengths, motivations, and career goals. Show empathy, offer support when needed, and be approachable so they feel comfortable coming to you with questions or concerns.

Encourage Open Communication Create a culture where feedback flows both ways, and encourage team members to share their ideas and perspectives. Use regular check-ins and team meetings to stay aligned and address any issues before they become bigger problems.

Adapt to Individual Needs - Recognize that each team member may respond differently to coaching styles, and be flexible in your approach. Tailor your coaching methods to the individual’s personality, learning style, and career stage.

Accountability - Hold yourself and others accountable to commitments and deadlines. Lead by example and demonstrate accountability in your own actions, which will inspire the same behavior in others.

Self-Awareness and Continuous Improvement - Reflect on your own strengths and weaknesses as a coach and actively seek ways to improve. Stay open to feedback from others and invest in your personal and professional development as a coach.

Managers diving into coaching can benefit from a few techniques. First, regular one-on-one meetings provide for an environment where tailored feedback and personalized guidance can be accomplished. Active listening is crucial since it helps managers understand their team’s needs and challenges better. Using open-ended questions encourages employees to think critically and generate their own solutions. It also promotes a sense of ownership and autonomy rather than being told everything.

Goal-setting with a coaching approach is also effective. Create clear achievable goals that can be broken down into snackable bits works best. Small wins that are celebrated gives everyone a sense of accomplishment, but gives the coach a way to boost morale and motivate the team. Promoting lifelong learning and development opportunities such as attending workshops and seminars, reading books and periodicals and joining professional groups that are networking and learning focused helps build strong team members.

By cultivating these skills, you will not only become a better coach but also foster a positive, productive environment within your small business.

Contributed by Marc L. Goldberg, Certified Mentor, SCORE Cape Cod & the Islands, www.score.org/capecod, 508/ 775-4884. Free and confidential mentoring for small businesses and nonprofits. Source: 15 Effective Coaching Techniques & Tools Every Coach Should Know, Marcel Schuy, CleverMemos, July 2023

A coach helps individuals improve their skills, achieve personal growth and find solutions to challenges. They focus on mentoring, providing feedback and encouraging self-discovery and empowerment. Managers focus on what and when, while coaches focus on how and why, fostering growth and development with the individual.