Ah, I do love an HBR article. You can listen to this one as well as read it, if that’s your preferred learning style.
Managing a team has changed over the years, and coaching is an increasingly important skillset to have as a leader. This article talks at length about the importance and impact of coaching your reports. It also gets into the details of how – discussing different strategies and styles, and offering a framework for “non-directive” coaching.
Non-directive coaching is a style of coaching in which the manager avoids judgement or direction, instead facilitating a conversation with the subordinate, encouraging reflection and independent problem solving. It’s a much different approach to the standard directive style of leadership; both have their place, but learning non-directive coaching is a skill most managers must work at.