Coaching: An Essential Element of Managing Your Employees

Topic(s): coaching, training
Publication: Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research and Practice
Article: Employee Coaching Relationships: Enhancing Construct Clarity and Measurement
Authors: J.B. Gregory, P.E. Levy
Reviewed by: Mary Alice Crowe-Taylor

Executive coaching has been the subject of much academic research. Employee coaching is distinctly different, as defined and measured by Gregory and Levy. These researchers argue that employee coaching is the coaching of subordinates by their supervisors. You may ask, “Isn’t that just synonymous with managing employees?” No! Coaching is only part of the managing that superiors do. And how well it is done can make all the difference in managing effectively.

ASSESSING THE QUALITY OF COACHING

To assess the quality of a supervisor’s coaching, these researchers created the Perceived Quality Employee Coaching Relationship (PQECR) scale using two employee samples. It captures subordinates’ views on their bosses’ coaching along the four dimensions of: genuineness; effective communication; comfort with the relationship; and facilitating development of the employee. It can be used to help managers and supervisors develop their coaching ability.

These researchers do advise third party administration of the PQECR so that supervisors can get honest responses from their employees. By defining employee coaching and providing the PQECR, Gregory and Levy hope to increase the scientific rigor of the domain of employee coaching and provide another tool for the manager’s toolbox.

 

J. B. Gregory & P. E. Levy (2010). Employee coaching relationships: Enhancing construct clarity and measurement. Coaching: An International Journal of Theory, Research, and Practice, 3(2), 109-123.