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Skilled managers have never been more critical to the success of firms than they are today.  Not because employees can't function without direction, but because managers play a vital role in talent management. Gone are the comprehensive career management systems and expectations of long-term employment that once functioned as the glue in the employer-employee contract.  In their place, the manager-employee dyad is the new building block of learning and development in firms.

The best way to empower employees is not to manage them. Coach them to success. This is a process of developing their skills and providing them specific feedback to meet high standards. Employees want to be on the same team with their bosses.

Pierce attributes that to "the emotional intelligence of people and the capacity to change" developed in PEP. But don't take his word for it. The data-obsessed Pierce commissioned a third path impact report on PEP. It came in glowing: 10-20% increase in employee satisfaction, 50% increase in employee collaboration, conflict management, and communication; 12% increase in customer satisfaction; and nearly three times the normal business impact.

Knowing how to effectively give positive feedback is a powerful tool to develop employee skills and talent. Yet leaders on the front lines, middle management, and upper tiers of organizations often overlook positive feedback and reinforcement, or are unsure or uncomfortable giving it.

More-progressive organizations are leaning into this trend. Great managers think of their roles as developing people first, and that corporate objectives are achieved through this development, not by resisting it. I'm always astonished when I hear managers say, "I simply don't have time to develop my team." What do they think their job is?

The collaborative and engaging style of a "Coach" enables leaders to be a "manager-coach". This approach focuses on developing employees in order to achieve business results rather than managing their every move. The mindset of the manager-coach is to create an environment that fosters learning, independent thinking and opportunities to contribute. The manager-coach doesn't want to be seen as a solution provider. Rather, they want to be seen as a facilitator, paving the way for the employee to achieve their results. Manager-Coaches are a role model for others. They are excellent listeners and communicators, providing perspective and encouragement while also setting high standards and expectations.

One of the most important, leadership skills to develop in managers is the ability to coach effectively-including how to connect with employees and get the best out of them on an ongoing basis. From my own experience, here are three employee performance management best practices I've found effective in turning frontline managers into first-rate coaches.

Really great article!

Your goal is to show your "commitment to helping your colleague develop and grow," but also to "step back, remember the organizational mandate, and think about how best you can work side-by-side with this person to get things done." Here are some tips to get the most out of these meetings.

"Precious moment of connection" is so true! And of course, always remember a sincere 'Thank You'.

Once employees know they're being approached about their work with respect-but also with consistently high expectations-they're likely to develop a comfortable, professional relationship with you, their manager.

If you've ever had a truly great boss, you know how important they can be to a company's success. In fact, Gallup's 2015 report, "State of the American Manager: Analytics and Advice for Leaders," chalks up 70% of the variance in employee engagement scores to the quality of the respondents' bosses.

Great list!

But I am suggesting that piling on praise is a more effective motivator for the rookie than the pro. And I'm saying, point blank, that you shouldn't worry so much when it comes to pointing out mistakes to someone experienced. Negative feedback won't crush their confidence, but it just might give them the information they need to take