Employee engagement is one of the biggest problems facing companies. According to a recent study by Gallup, 85% of employees are not engaged with their workplace, meaning they do the bare minimum, view their workplace with negativity, and are not emotionally connected. In another study, researchers found that 81% of employees would leave their current job for a better offer.
One of the best ways to improve employee engagement is professional coaching. Coaching should be an integral part of building a culture of trust and safety, which results in innovation, creativity and yes- increased employee engagement. Specifically, what does coaching provide to leaders?
Increased emotional intelligence
Emotional intelligence is comprised of two main parts. First, it informs how well an individual sees themselves, and how they affect others. Second, it allows an individual to better understand the emotional states of other people. In short, it provides self-reflection and empathy.
Coaching increases emotional intelligence in a number of ways, but the greatest benefit comes from the coach helping to unveil possibilities that the client couldn’t see previously. This includes how their presence affects others and increases receptivity to others’ emotional states.
Better communication
Coaching helps improve communication by examining assumptions and offering tested models for making requests, offers, complaints, and giving and receiving feedback. This leaves little room for misunderstandings and provides a safe way to explore any breakdowns that do happen.
Increased confidence
By providing a safe space for leaders to explore their uncertainties, coaching can help build confidence, poise and executive presence. With these qualities in place, a leader can truly lead by providing guidance, support and mentoring to their team. This results in happy, productive employees who trust their leader.
There are other ways to improve employee engagement with organizational consulting, but those are best used in conjunction with executive coaching to create a truly transformational culture that inspires creativity, innovation, and productivity.
Matt McLaughlin helps conscious companies build transformational leaders and teams. He has over 20 years of experience building high-performance teams and has practiced and taught meditation for 30 years. He brings a deep passion for companies that foster social and environmental sustainability and views business as a crucial component of societal change.
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