Bloomberg, Paterson and Jay-Z Dig the Barclays Center

Bloomberg, Paterson and Jay-Z Dig the Barclays CenterBloomberg, Paterson and Jay-Z Dig the Barclays CenterThe ceremony was met with protest, as has the project for several years, and one protestor was even arrested by the NYPD.The new structure, according to the celebrity ground-breakers, will bring some much-needed jobs to Brooklyn. It will also, according to protestors, many of whom live in adjacent neighborhoods, bring some not-so-much needed more mayhem to an already insanely trafficked corner of the borough.In addition, according to Bobby D. and the rest of the birds and blokes at Barclays, the Center will bring some serious street cred to an institution largely known as possessing blood the color of the Caribbean Sea.

Job Tenure and the Myth of Job Hopping

Job Tenure and the Myth of Job HoppingJob Tenure and the Myth of Job HoppingCompanies have been in a panic over job turnover rates. Its costly, and many point fingers at the ever-active pool of young workers as the main culprits. As a result, employers are going out of their way to keep fresh talent happy. But do modern workers really change jobs that often compared to previous generations? Job Tenure by the Numbers On average, people are staying in their jobs a little longer than they did a few years ago, according to the latest numbers from the Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) in 2014. The report ignited a flurry of articles and blog posts on job hopping. The discussion focused on whether its schwimmbad for your career or bad for employers. So how long do workers stay with their employers nowadays? The median number of years wage and salaried employees stayed with their current employer in January 2014 was 4.6 years. The saatkorn was true in 2012, and it was an increase from 4. 4 years in 2010. In 2004, the average was 4 years. The Myth of Job Hopping Job hopping appears to be the norm today. Millennials are labeled lazy, self-entitled, and, therefore, responsible for high turnover rates in the labor market. However, the latest BLS survey shows the number of years people spend with the same employer has increased over the past decade. In 2002, the median tenure was 3.7 years. It went up to 4.0 years in both 2004 and 2006. And in 2008, it was 4.1 years. To put that into historical context, in January 1983, according to the BLS report for the year, the median tenure of workers was 4.4 years. The figures are clear On average, people today stay in their current jobs longer than in the past. Tenure and Tech Careers For those in computer and mathematical jobs, median tenure in 2014 was 5 years. Thats up from 2012 when it was 4.8 years. In fact, the average has remained steady for over a decade. The only dips were in 2002 after the tech bubble collapsethe average then was 3.2 yearsand again in 2008 (4.5 years). Its important to note, though, the BLS groups occupations. The computer and mathematical occupations group include all computer-related occupations like software developers, network administrators, and database administrators. Besides computer-based jobs, it includes actuaries, mathematicians, operations research analysts, and statisticians. It is difficult to determine whether figures for computer occupations on their own would be very different. Some reports, like PayScale figures on job tenure at companies on the Fortune 500 list, suggest tech experts dont stay at jobs for long. But the industry is booming, so employee growth and recruitment practices play a big part in those averages. Tenure in Other Professions Tech is an obvious area of interest for job tenure trends. Gen Y/Millennials have grown up to be tech-savvy workers and are at the helm of todays hottest technologies. They value job satisfaction so will move on to find it. How do other professions compare in terms of job tenure? Employees in management occupations have been with the same employer the longest of any occupational category6.9 years, up from 6.3 years in 2012 and 6.1 years in 2010Architecture and engineering occupations had a median tenure of 6.4 years in 2014. It dropped from 7 years on the previous tally.Sales positions had a median tenure of 3.4 years in 2014.Food preparation and serving had the shortest tenure, which was 2.2 years in 2014, down from 2.3 years in 2012. Tenure Among Younger Workers Analysts cite the BLS survey as proof Millennials hop from job to job more often than older co-workers. But the statistics themselves dont address this. What the stats tell us is younger people stay with their current employer for fewer years than their older co-workers. This should come as no surprise. A 22-year-old, for example, worked for the same employer for 1.3 years at the time of the latest BLS report. Those who ent ered the job market straight out of high school would have been in the workforce for less than three years, so a short time with the same employer is reasonable. Conclusion People have started to acknowledge the merits of job hopping. But the numbers prove people arent changing jobs so often anyway. Interestingly, the median tenure for all age groups in the 1983 report was close to what it is today. Only a couple of months separate most age groups. And even when workers leave for better opportunities, many tech companies today arent too concerned with high turnover rates. The abundance of talent in the industry means theres always someone to step in and take the company further.

How LinkedIn Can Hurt Your Job Search

How LinkedIn Can Hurt Your Job SearchHow LinkedIn Can Hurt Your Job Search12If youre like many job seekers, you probably have a LinkedIn profile. And if youre like most, you try to keep it updated with new information about yourself in an effort to catch the attention of a hiring manager or prospective employer. You might also follow companies that you want to work for on LinkedIn. But did you know that by modifying your LinkedIn profile, or following companies of interest, you might actually hurt your job search? Heres why.When you make a change (in fact, any change) to the profile field directly underneath your name (the space LinkedIn calls your Professional Headline), LinkedIn will send out a message to your professional network encouraging them to congratulate you. The reason why is that LinkedIns algorithm views the edit as a new job or title (even if it isnt) and will blast a Congratulate message to your network. In fact, if your contacts are on LinkedIn, their activity feed w ill also prompt them to Say congrats on the new job, too.And when you follow a company on LinkedIn, it automatically tells your network youve done so. In their LinkedIn Pulse feed, theyll see that Joe Smith is now following X Company.Why These Features of LinkedIn Can Hurt Your Job SearchThis can be especially problematic for job seekers for a variety of reasons. For one, it makes it seem like youve been recently hired for a new job. On the other hand, it can draw attention to the fact that youre updating your LinkedIn profile- which might tip off your current employer to your job search activities.For example, lets say that youre studying to get a new degree. If you want to add your education or new workplace skills to your profiles headline, this can activate the congratulate email. Or, if you are looking for a freelance job and update your profile to remove your previous freelance job, LinkedIn will still congratulate youand invite others to do so as well.How to Stop LinkedIns Ac tivity BroadcastsDoes this mean that you can never update your LinkedIn profile? Of course not, but be careful what you write and where you write it on your profile. After all, you dont want to be congratulated on a job that you dont have or be potentially passed over by a hiring manager who erroneously assumes that youre gainfully employed.Right now, the only remedy for this issue is to shut off all your activity broadcasts while you update your profile or job search. You can do this by hovering over your photo in the upper right corner of the page, going to Privacy Settings, and then choosing Turn on/off your activity broadcasts.When youre ready to let your network know of an actual success (like finding a perfect part-time job within your industry, for example), you should then turn your activity broadcast back on. The thing is that youll have to remember to do this each time. Otherwise, you might receive lots of congratulatory emails- or suspicious looks from your current emplo yer- and have a lot of explaining to do.LinkedIn Can Hurt Your Job Search, but It Can Also Help- A LotLinkedIn is still a wonderful resource for creating new contacts, finding a network of like-minded industry professionals, and making connections with potential employers. If you remember to take control over your profile, you can safely post all of your job search successes- and relish all of the well-deserved congratulatory emails youll get.Readers, have you ever had this situation happen to you on LinkedIn? Let us know about your experiences in the comments section below

Five Books Your Boss Wishes You Would Read

Five Books Your Boss Wishes You Would ReadFive Books Your Boss Wishes You Would ReadPeople who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents. Andrew CarnegieIts easy to say that whats stopping you from being extraordinary is your own self-motivation. But when push comes to shove, a lot of us find ourselves stuck doing whats comfortable and getting the same results. Here is a roundup of five books that will push you out of your comfort zone and motivate you to move away from mediocrity. StartPunch Fear in the Face, Escape Average and Do Work that Mattersby Jon Acuff Jon Acuffs Start provides practical advice on how to change an average existence into an awesome life. Acuff discusses the fives stages of success, which are also concurrent with decades of age in the adult life Learning(20s), Editing(30s), Mastering(40s), Harvesting(50s) and Guiding(60s). He reveals his secret on how to accelerate these stages and illustrat es his shortened path to success with examples such as teenagers creating successful businesses and baby boomers starting a new career later in life.Better Than Before Mastering the Habits of Our Everyday Lives by Gretchen RubinIn Better Than Before by Gretchen Rubin, the author tests out her theories on how menschlichs form habits. Her book is full of detailed research and personal anecdotes, which make the book informative as well as entertaining. No matter how many books youve read on forming habits, Rubins personal insight on her theories of habit formation will make it a fresh and interesting read.Work RulesInsights from Inside Google That Will Transform How You Live and Lead by Laszlo BockAlthough the advice in this book applies to everyone, it will especially appeal to anyone who works in HR. Written by Laszlo Bock, the head of People Operations at Google, Work Rules discloses the most effective ways to build an amazing workforce. Bock offers a guide based on the latest resea rch in behavioral economics and a profound grasp of human psychology that will transform your company and life for the better. Creativity, Inc. Overcoming the Unseen Forces That Stand in the Way of True Inspirationby Ed Catmull Amy WallaceIts one thing to be an exceptional employee, but it takes a different set of skills to inspire your team to be above average. Ed Catmull, one of the co-founders of Pixar Animation Studios, writes about how he and his team cultivated an unconventional culture that led to Pixars success. Creativity, Inc. is also a New York Times Bestseller and was named one of the best books of the year by The Huffington Post. Flex The New Playbook for Managing Across Differences by Jane Hyun and Audrey S. LeeIn todays global society, successful managers must be able to not only manage different personalities but different cultures. Flex gives advice to managers on how to deal with diverse cultures, ages and genders. This book is a must-read for any manager who want s to improve their communication skills and relate to their team in a more effective way.

Telling a Story With Your Resume

Telling a Story With Your ResumeTelling a Story With Your ResumeFor all the resume advice that exists, the one thing you rarely ever hear from hiring managers or employers is just how much they enjoyed reading your resume. Perhaps, this is because resume advice is so easy to find that after awhile all resumes may start to look the same. A good way to not have a boring resume is to have it tell a compelling story.This does not mean turn your resume into an adaptation of Moby Dick. Instead, it means your resume should make the case for why you should be hired. Make the case with bullet points, keywords, and using the type of resume that appeals to companies in your industry in the following waysSummarize your skillsStart off your story with something that is highly relevant to the job. After all, a story being told out of place always leaves people wondering, Why are you showing me this?, a question that shows you are confusing the reader of your resume. It will help your story to ment ion some career highlights that resulted from implementing your skills, too.Above all, keep your readers in mind. Mentioning irrelevant highlights and skills leads the reader to believe your story belongs in another pile of resumes for some other job.Use unique sectionsWe love stories about people who bent the rules a little bit and managed to succeed. If you have a fascinating career past with several jobs and industries, you may want to give your resume some structure to help it make a little more sense.Instead of using the typical styles of resume, add some unique sections based on your skills. For example, use sections like thisDirector of Marketing ExperienceInvestment Banking ExperienceDirector of Sales ExperienceIf you had such experience listed out in a chronological resume, your resume would make you look like you lack focus or direction. It will look like you jumped from job to job, never really sure of what you wanted to do in your career.Never be afraid to break free of traditional methods, especially if you are a person who enjoys defying traditions.3. Rethink your lesser relevant experienceAll stories start to make less and less sense the more you have gaps in the storyline. If you have gaps in your resume, try to use experience from irrelevant jobs to fill in the gaps. For example, if you were once a Customer Service Manager, but its no longer relevant because you are seeking a position in Operations, there are skills that can be used to fill in your resume. You can point out your teamwork, analytics, satisfaction-focus and management skills acquired in your CSM position.Focus your bullet points on your ability to collaborate with other teams and departments. Focus your bullet points on your career experience in managing client satisfaction. You can use these bullet points as a lead-in to explain your career transition. Ideally, aim to make no part of your story resume just a filler.At the end of this process, you should have a resume that spell s out your skills and experiences. Meanwhile, your resume will be intriguing enough that the reader needs to reach out to you. They want to know more about the character in this story

The New Angle On Adding a Resume to Linkedin Just Released

The New Angle On Adding a Resume to Linkedin Just Released What the In-Crowd Wont Tell You About Adding a Resume to Linkedin So after you dedicate to your very first job, hunt for unique chances in the same way that youre likely to be traveling. Deconstruct the problems youll be requested to tackle. As a consequence, in the event that you really desire to get the work you want, here are a couple helpful suggestions that could enable you to match your dream. Since you can observe thats a whole bunch of work. In addition, dont underestimate the ability of great onboarding every time a new team member joins. Or if its a team work and whats the usage of the prosperous applicant for a component of the group, etc.. If you are searching for a new job or mean to shift your current job then you want to post your resume in as many places as it can be to raise your awareness in the front from the feasible employers. The 1 exception is if youre targeting an academic position. The W ar Against Adding a Resume to Linkedin Probably the most ways to reveal your interest is to offer recommendations about how to raise the item, process, or a different region of the corporation. You can construct and maintain an on-line brand across a selection of platforms. Be aware that adding a particular ethnic cuisine will possibly include restaurants beyond Bayside. The great part about upping your network is that you will never know where people will wind up working or where their network ends up working Letters are typically a few pages, however they can go longer if theres a reason supporting the format thats extended. The work post might request a person who is detail-oriented, someone with a proven record of excellent written communication, or someone whos extremely organized. If youre on the lookout for a teaching job you have the ability to find assistance from site to produce an attractive cover letter to you. Composing your covering letter with your work applic ation is likely to take a little time and thought. Adding a Resume to Linkedin No Longer a Mystery Below is a detailed guide to the best way to use LinkedIn as a potent job search tool. Resumes are usually somewhat restrictive because you abide by an overall format. What Adding a Resume to Linkedin Is - and What it Is Not Even in case the LinkedIn connection isnt in the identical department, they can forward your resume to the correct person. Both can cause you to get exceptional but only one can enable you to land work. Look for a job which you would want to turn in an application for that has the LinkedIn easy apply option. The great thing is that you may also add resume on LinkedIn. Some job postings are likely to list soft skills which are simple to recognize. You must keep improving your resume every time you receive a job, succeed an honour or full academics. For making positive influence on the recruiter, it is very important to obtain a special resume portraying your job certain information. If youd like the new job, youre very likely to get to make a superior impression. If you do snoop around profiles, make certain to set your privacy settings so that nobody can understand your name. Ensure you get the most out of the name of the person who referred you in the subject line. Adding resume birthdate could result in ageism. The reply to that question has to be a definite yes Now you are aware of how to modify your resume on LinkedIn. LinkedIn is among the simplest and most useful sites to import the data of your professional life and set it in digital so as to look for professional opportunities. LinkedIn isnt as closed as Facebook for example, all profiles are open to everyone although you can just contact people direct if youre connected. Actually, LinkedIn say they wish to create a professional identity for their users, meaning your profile is going to be your on-line hub. Be sure that youre utilizing a precise email address . Your resume email must be short and sweet. Describe that youre, why youre emailing and you would like to work for the provider. Some businesses will request a duplicate of your resume via email. Characteristics of Adding a Resume to Linkedin Job seekers should incorporate a number of recommendations with their profile to demonstrate that others respect the voreingestellt of their work. Some job applications request that you list various abilities and certificates that you require that will ensure it is feasible that you carry out the job. Aim for a minumum of one recommendation for every single job that youve had. So resume objectives will are different based on the sector when you are attempting to find employment. The Downside Risk of Adding a Resume to Linkedin Finding out how to add resume to LinkedIn 2019 is actually quick. Your LinkedIn profile makes it possible to expand on the info. LinkedIn is not going to create your career. However, it can help tip the bala nce. In the event you dont understand how to upload a resume at LinkedIn after its redesign, here is a quick guide. If writing a business letter appears to be daunting, it can be helpful to recognize that all business letters should stick to quite a straightforward template. CVs may also incorporate Driving License section. Type the rest of the correspondence the manner that you would any formal correspondence. The format for a letter of intent isnt difficult to follow, and you might write an excellent letter of intent in just a few minutes.

Influence Candidate Search with Your Company Blog - Spark Hire

Influence Candidate Search with Your Company Blog - Spark HireWhen targeting top talent in todays candidate market, it is important for small businesses to get creative in order to compete with larger corporations. One way to stand out to top talent is through blogging.If your small business already has a blog, then there are several ways you can utilize your blog in order to attract top talent.1. Job AdvertisementOne of the most obvious ways to attract talent through your company blog is by advertising your job openings. Of course, you would notlage want job advertisements to consume your blog, so make aya that you are dispersing these notifications in between your standard blog posts.Perhaps you could include a link somewhere on your blog that would take interested candidates to your company career page. Consider ad banners at the top or side of your blog site, advertising why someone should consider a career with your company.2. Promote Company CultureIn todays candidate market, t op talent is paying attention to not only compensation and benefits, but also company culture.Make sure that you are displaying your company culture on your blog through content. Add into your blog posts something that relates to your companys culture. For example, if your company has an open, collaborative culture, be sure to include this in a post when referencing how your company does business.By advertising your company culture through your blog, you will have a better chance of your industrys top talent considering a career with your business, regardless of whether they were looking for a job or not.If you have a good blog with solid industry tips and advice, then the talent you want to attract will likely already be visiting your blog for your industry knowledge. Why not capitalize on that by showing them what a great company culture you have?3. Promote Employee BenefitsWhy would top talent want to work for your company? What type of benefits do you offer to your employees?If your company provides scheduling flexibility, gym memberships, outstanding health benefits, and any other amazing perks to employees, be sure to include this somewhere on your blog. I guarantee that these perks will grab the attention of the top talent you desire.Also, consider allowing some of your employees to post on your blog from time to time, referencing their work and why they choose to be a part of your team.When top talent reads posts written by your employees about why they love being a part of your company, it will weigh much more than any general advertisement.What are some other ways you could attract top talent through your company blog? Please share your thoughts in the comments below.

Learn How to Present a Completed Feasibility Study

Learn How to Present a Completed Feasibility StudyLearn How to Present a Completed Feasibility StudyA comprehensive business feasibility study contains detailed information about your business structure, your products, and services, the market, logistics of how you will deliver a product or service, the resources you need to make the business run efficiently, as well as other information about the business. How to Assemble Your Feasibility Study How you present, your final study is just as important as the information it contains. If you have a lot of material put it in a portfolio or binder. Finding information easily and quickly is important to busy lenders and investors, so include tabs (type them it at all possible) to indicate each component in your study. Cover letters should bedrngnis be generic but should be individualized depending upon with whom you are submitting the study. Before you submit your study, have someone else proofread it for you to check for content and er rors. Typographical errors will make your study appear rushed or unprofessional, and if your descriptions and calculations do not make sense to the reader they are worthless. Although you write your conclusion last, it serves as a summary of all the detail in your study. You can place it at the end of your document (before any exhibits and attachments), but placing it first (after the table of contents) sets the tone and identifies key issues for the reader to be aware of even before they read the rest of the study. The following is a checklist of components that should go into your complete feasibility study. Cover LetterCover SheetTable of ContentsDescription of Your Business (what you do, a list of products or services, and how you deliver products or services)Feasibility Study ConclusionsMarket Feasibility StudyOrganizational Feasibility StudyTechnical Feasibility StudyFinancial Feasibility Study(Optional) Legal Risks Feasibility StudyAttachments (spreadsheets)Exhibits or Append ices (statistics, graphs, examples, literature, contracts, samples, etc.) Points to Remember A feasibility study is a process in which you look at an idea to see if it is feasible, that is, if and how it will work.A comprehensive feasibility study looks at the entire structure, needs, and operations of a business.A limited or project feasibility study looks at one specific task, program, idea, or problem.A feasibility study looks at both sides, considering pros and cons, and troubleshoots potential problems.A feasibility study is not a business plan but serves as a foundation for developing your business plan. A market feasibility study is not a absatzwirtschaft plan, but studies markets and market potential, and can be used to support or develop a marketing plan.In addition to a business plan, an investor or lending institution may require you to submit a feasibility study before considering your request for capital. Feasibility Study Course Navigation Complete Feasibility Study Course Syllabus

Cover Letter Tips from the New York Times

Cover Letter Tips from the New York TimesCover Letter Tips from the New York Times2When you think about it, your job application has some of the priciest real estate around. Since youre limited to about two pages that have to not only summarize your entire career, but also catch the eye of a hiring manager and sell that personon why you (and only you) are the person to hire, it makes sense that every word should pack a punch.But many times job seekers dont usetheir titelblatt letters to the fullest advantage, and instead use that precious page to basically regurgitate their resume- only in full-sentence format. In the New York Times article, How to Write a Cover Letter People Will Actually Read, distitelbild how to write an award-winning cover letter- or at least just get called in for an interview.Cover Letter Tips from the New York Times1. Forget the format.If you thought that having a generic format for your cover letter will get you hired, think again.Sure, being bland can keep y ou in the safe zone, but it can also put you in a bigger competitive pool with other job seekers who also wrote their cover letters the same way. Instead of sticking to one format, try to vary your cover letter depending on the job youre applying for. (And yes, you should definitely have more than one version of your cover letter when applying for jobs.) By avoiding a specific format, youll feel more freedom to be creative in your cover letter. Which leads us to 2. Make it personal.Hiring managers are desperate (yes, desperate) to know who job seekers really are.Thats why the vast majority of them will peruse yoursocial media profiles as a way to get a glimpse into who you are beyond whats listed on your resume. Theyre not simply being nosy when you consider how much it costs a company to hire a new employee, not to mention the loss of productivity when said employee is hired, it makes sense that a potential employer wants to ensure the new hire complements the company and will also mesh well with the rest of the team.When writing your cover letter, be sure to infuse it with bits of your personality so a hiring manager can get a sense of who you are. You might want to add a short anecdote (as it relates to the job youre hiring for) or write in a more conversational format to let employers feel as if they already know you.3. Dont repeat your resume.The cover letter portion of your job application can be scary to some job seekers, especially if you feel that your writing skills are not up to par.To avoid making a mistake, job seekers will just take their resume and pretty much paste it onto their cover letter. But the hiring manager already scanned your resume, so reading it again in a longer format isnt going to cut it.Use all that extra space to showcase specific examples from your resume of why youre a qualified job candidate. You might want to include examples of projects you worked on or expand on how youre a strong team player and highlight those soft skil ls that employers are looking for when hiring remote workers.4. Conduct some research.Employers want to know that you want to work for their company, not just get hired so you can end your job search and get a paycheck. And ideally, youre only applying for companies that you really would like to work for with missions that you believe in and jobs that interest and excite you.So before you click send on that job application, why not try doing some research on the company? Find out more about its history, some of its accolades, and its plans for the future as well, and then tailor your cover letter to include some of this information. Sure, it might mean that youre churning out fewer job applications daily, but it also means that you are sending well-thought-out, well-rounded, and more quality job applications that will get you a quicker callback.5. Showcase your knowledge.Your cover letter is prime real estate to show what you know. You can do this by highlighting previous work exper iences (as well as life experiences) that showcase the education, experience, and skills youll need for the job youre applying for.That said, you should also customize your cover letter to specifically address any issues that the company might be facing. For example, if the organization is having some pain points (e.g., its social media could use some shaping up) offer up some ideason how you would fix them based on your knowledge about the company, as well as your own experiences and expertise. By being proactive in your cover letter, youre showing the company why hiring you makes smart business sense- for them.These cover letter tips from the New York Times can help you learn what to do- and what not to do- on your cover letter. Although it might be tempting to cut corners when it comes to your cover letter in an effort to apply to more positions, it really makes better business sense to produce fewer (but better quality) cover letters that will get you hired faster.Start Applying to Flexible JobsReaders, are you customizing your cover letters for each job youre applying for, or are you just cranking them out? Let us know in the comments below

How Managers Can Become Effective Coaches of Employees

How Managers Can Become Effective Coaches of EmployeesHow Managers Can Become Effective Coaches of EmployeesCan a manager be an effective coach?Some professional coaches suggest that managers cannot and should not attempt to coach their employees. After all, the manager has too much of a vested interest in the outcome of the coaching and couldnt possibly be neutral enough to hold back on their opinions. Then again, a lot of managers think they are already coaching when what they are really doing is a lot of teaching, advising, and telling- or, in the worst case, micromanaging. They use the phrase coaching to describe just about any conversation they have with an employee. It helps to first understand the definition of coaching. Aligning on the Meaning, Behaviors, and Types of Coaching Coaching is the skill and art of helping someone improve their performance and reach their full potential. Coaching skills are often described as either directive or non-directive. Directive skills include TeachingAdvisingGiving FeedbackOffering Suggestions Non-directive coaching involves asking questions and listening versus offering ideas or approaches. The real magic of coaching is when the coach takes a non-directive approach by asking challenging questions and listening as the individual works on solving his or her own problems. When people come up with their own solutions, they are mora committed, and the fixes are more likely to be implemented. Additionally, this problem-solving experience helps individuals develop the self-confidence to solve similar problems on their own. Great coaches help minimize the noise and distractions that are getting in the way of someones ability to figure out whats going on and what to do about it. Great coaches know how and when to ask the right question at the right time, when to givefeedback, when to advise, how to get the person to focus, and how to gain commitment. Managers can do this, but they have to let go of a few beliefs and pick up a few mindsets and skills. Here are five critical behaviors for managers who want to coach employees. Let Go of the Belief That Their Job Is to Have All of the Answers While many managers wont admit they think they know more than the sum total of their entire team, they still act that way. Its human nature. We all like to be advice columnists when it comes to other peoples problems. The problem is, when you dont give employees the opportunity to solve their own problems, they dont develop. Instead, they become dependent and never reach their full potential. Believe That Every Employee Can Grow and Improve A manager cant coach an employee if they sincerely dont believe in the employee. Instead, they should be readingHow to Coach an Employee Out of a Job. Be Willing to Slow Down and Take the Time to Coach Yes, its quicker and simpler to tell and give advice. Coaching does take a little more time and patience upfront, and it takes deliberate practice to get good at it. However, its an investment in people that has a higher return than just about any other management skill. People learn, they develop, performance improves, people are more satisfied and engaged, and organizations are more successful. Learn How to Coach You cant just throw a switch and be an effective coach. You need to have a framework, and it takes practice. Most coaches I know use the GROW model as their framework. They like it because its easy to remember and provides a roadmap for just about any coaching conversation. While there are many versions of the GROW acronym, the one I use is G goalTell me what you want to get out of this discussion?R realitySo whats actually happening?O optionsWhat could you do about it?W whats nextWhat are you going to definitely do about it? By when? Managers Should Study the Experts and Practice the Techniques To learn how to coach, managers should experience what its like to be coached by someone whos really good at it. Then, read a goo d book on the topic. Then, practice, practice, practice, and get feedback. After a while, you become less dependent on a linear framework and begin to comfortably bounce from one step to another. It also helps to have a toolkit of favorite questions to ask for each step in the GROW model. The Bottom Line Managers who want to be effective coaches will most likely need to let go of some assumptions about themselves and their employees, be willing to learn and practice a style of management that will initially feel unnatural and awkward. However, the rewards will be well worth the effort. Updated by Art Petty