A Gallup study titled “State of the American Manager” found that 50% of Americans had once left a job to get away from their manager and improve their life. If you’re a manager, that’s a lot of pressure to feel on your shoulders. Not only do you want to be productive and effective in your role, but you also want your direct reports to feel good. There’s an internal dilemma many managers have to work through when leading others. Should they behave more like a commander or coach?
Managing as a Commander
Commanding is about giving direction and setting expectations. Command effectively by providing clear, direct communication to your team members. Tell them what they need to do and how they should complete it. Some people are better at commanding than others, but all managers should be able to do it. If you’re leading by command, you must ensure your directions are clear and easy to follow.
Managing as a Coach
Coaching is about developing skills in others so they can learn how to complete their jobs. Provide others with regular feedback on their performance to support their development. Coaching involves helping employees improve their skills through guidance, training, or mentoring. While some people may be naturally good coaches, it’s vital for managers to know how to coach.
To be a Commander or Coach? That is the Question!
A great manager can balance between being a commander and being a coach. There are times when a manager needs to lead through commanding and times when they need to lead through coaching. Using both styles at the right time can help you get the best out of your team.
Some managers find it easy to use one style over another. Others have trouble adjusting their tactics as needed, making them less effective as managers. The key is to know yourself and understand what works best for you and your team members
The Commander
A commander expects their employees to follow their commands without question or hesitation. This style can sometimes be effective, but it may only sometimes be appropriate.
Managers make decisions based on their knowledge and experience rather than feedback from others.
Commanding can be effective when you’re in charge of a large group of people who don’t know each other and need to work together toward a common goal. If your employees are familiar with each other, this style may not be the right choice because it doesn’t allow for open communication.
The Coach
Coaching is a style of leadership that involves helping employees grow and develop. It’s about giving people the tools and skills they need to succeed. Coaching is an ongoing process, not a one-time event.
Coaching comes from the belief that people can learn, grow, and change their behaviors to improve their performance. Coaches want their employees to succeed, but they also understand that there are times when an employee needs extra support.
Coaches provide feedback so that employees can improve their performance. They also develop plans for improvement based on what they’ve observed about their employees’ abilities and goals. Coaches also offer praise when appropriate. They recognize when individuals or teams have done something well, even if it wasn’t perfect.
Balancing Between Being A Commander And Coach
The key to moving between commander and coach is to know when to use one or the other. A good leader will know when to be in charge and when to let go. They will be able to read the situation and then adjust accordingly.
Choose to be a Coach
When your team is having problems with motivation or morale, it’s time to step back and coach them. You need to get them excited again about what they’re doing so they’re motivated enough to work hard on their ideas and projects. It is up to you to create an environment where they can thrive.
Choose to be a Commander
Let’s say you’re managing several projects at once but don’t have enough time to get everything done yourself. You may need to delegate some responsibilities at a high level of quality. This situation may call for you to take on a greater commanding role.
*Warning* It’s easy to get comfortable being the “commander,” but if you’re in that role because of laziness or lack of skill, you’re not really doing anything for the team.
Transitioning Between a Commander and Coach
Here are some tips on how to transition between the two roles:
1. Know your people.
Before you give orders, make sure you know what motivates your team members. This will help you determine which leadership style will work best with each person. You may need to be more of a commander with a rookie than you do a veteran.
2. Be clear with your “why.”
They won’t be motivated if they don’t understand why they’re doing something. Explain why they need to complete specific tasks before giving them any direction or asking them for their input.
3. Use trust instead of fear or punishment as motivation.
Establish strong relationships with your team members so that they can trust you. This will increase their loyalty and commitment toward achieving goals together as a unit. You don’t want them focusing on individual accomplishments alone for personal gain.
Closing Thoughts: Commander or Coach
As a manager, you probably want to be both a commander and a coach for your direct reports—to tell them what to do and then help them learn to do it. For example, if you were to lead your team with tight deadlines, clear direction, and clear expectations, that would be acting more like a commander. But, if you wanted to be there with feedback as an active supporter, that would be more like managing like a coach.
The key, though, is knowing when to be which. It can be challenging to weigh the line between making expectations clear and helping your people grow. A few signs can tip you off when you need to get on the right track. If people are not following directions and failing to meet goals, they need more commanding. If they feel micromanaged and restricted, then they probably need more coaching. Whether as a commander or coach, focus on providing a clear vision for your team. Doing so will help them understand how their efforts tie into the organization as a whole.
Time to Commit
- Which comes easier to you: being a commander or being a coach?
- What do you need to work on: being a commander or a coach?
