Tips For Managing Employees In Your Agency

Today’s agent knows how important their staff is to their business playing a critical role in the success of their agency. Managing is a skill you certainly need to run your office effectively, however coaching your staff can lead to a team that is both motivated and inspired a win-win for your agency.

When you coach you form a partnership between the agent (you) and your team members (your staff). The goal behind coaching is to significantly increase productivity within the office and have an office that runs much more efficiently. Communicating, reinforcing, empowering, and motivating are all key when it comes to coaching team members. The objective is to help staff develop new skills by providing ongoing growth and improvement. This will also result in higher job satisfaction and lower staff turn over. At the end of the day, the goal is to achieve the vision your agency has.

Coaching can occur at many different intervals. It can happen while you are explaining the goals of your agency. It may be the result of a change in direction within your agency. You can coach while your team is being trained, or you might do some coaching if the cohesiveness of your team needs strengthening.

There are three styles of coaching.

Supportive – This is one of the most frequently used coaching styles. It uses positive reinforcement and constructive criticism. For example, let’s say you notice one of your team is providing exception customer service; positive feedback would be in order. On the other hand perhaps you notice an employee struggling with a certain work related task; you could offer some constructive criticism.

Directive – This approach is the most effective if your have new team members who are still learning specific tasks for their job and who are still at a stage where improvement in performance is necessary. When you are using this method it is important that you clearly state the facts and clearly communicate your action plan.

Empowering – This is a style that puts emphasis on opportunities that will challenge and motivate team members that are experienced and that have achieved their potential. It can be used when you are working with a member of your team in establishing goals or if they have asked for your assistance in enhancing their performance. It is important that you provide recognition for a job that is well done.

Your coaching sessions can be planned, spontaneous, or both. You or members of your team can request a coaching session be scheduled for a number of reasons such as goal setting or improving performance.

Coaches that are successful accomplish their success using different styles depending on the needs of their team members and what is deemed most effective. Managing your team is important but don’t forget the power of coaching in achieving the goals of your agency.