Leaders Lack Critical Coaching Skills

In a recent study, Driving Workplace Performance Through High-Quality Conversations, Develop Dimensions International's (DDI) analysis of thousands of assessments confirmed that experienced leaders lack critical coaching skills, including:

  • 99% are not effective at checking their understanding of a situation before moving on to address an issue

  • More than 50% are not effective at encouraging involvement from others

  • 89% are not effective in demonstrating interpersonal diplomacy

  • Also 89% are not effective in conveying performance expectations and facilitating clear agreement

  • 95% are not effective at openly disclosing and sharing their thoughts and feelings with others

  • The research also identified an increase in reactive coaching (providing advice after the fact) and a lack of proactive coaching (offering assistance before someone takes on a difficult task or assignment)

Jim Concelman, Vice President, Leadership Development, DDI