--- title: Coaching the First-time Coach description: One of the more interesting topics that our clients are struggling with is the changing needs of first-time coaches. Here are six tips to leverage when coaching a first-time coach. image: https://www.advantexe.com/hubfs/coaching-the-coach.jpg --- [![logo-advantexe-150.png](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/logo-advantexe-150.png?width=150&height=123&name=logo-advantexe-150.png "logo-advantexe-150.png")](https://www.advantexe.com) ![blog-banner-2022](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/blog-banner-2022.png?width=973&name=blog-banner-2022.png "blog-banner-2022") ### The Advantexe Advisor Blog - providing a deep and applicable understanding of the system of business. # Coaching the First-time Coach By Robert Brodo | Feb 22, 2019 8:12:52 AM | [![Share on Facebook](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/facebook-24x24.png)](http://www.facebook.com/share.php?u=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcoaching-the-first-time-coach%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dfacebook) [![Share on LinkedIn](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/linkedin-24x24.png)](http://www.linkedin.com/shareArticle?mini=true&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcoaching-the-first-time-coach%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dlinkedin) [![Share on Twitter](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/twitter-24x24.png)](https://twitter.com/intent/tweet?original_referer=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcoaching-the-first-time-coach%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcoaching-the-first-time-coach%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dtwitter&source=tweetbutton&text=Coaching%20the%20First-time%20Coach) [![Share on Pinterest](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/pinterest-24x24.png)](http://pinterest.com/pin/create/button/?url=https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcoaching-the-first-time-coach%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Dpinterest&media=) [![Share on Email](https://static.hubspot.com/final/img/common/icons/social/email-24x24.png)](mailto:?subject=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcoaching-the-first-time-coach%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail%20&body=Check%20out%20https%3A%2F%2Fwww.advantexe.com%2Fblog%2Fcoaching-the-first-time-coach%3Futm_medium%3Dsocial%26utm_source%3Demail) You are an experienced leader and have been successfully leading and coaching direct reports for ![coaching-the-coach](https://www.advantexe.com/hs-fs/hubfs/coaching-the-coach.jpg?width=240&name=coaching-the-coach.jpg)many years.  As you’ve advanced in your career and moved up in the organization, your role has evolved from managing individual contributors to managing the managers of individual contributors.  As we all know, that can be a difficult transition as you are now another level away from the “real work” of physically making products or delivering services. This week, I had the opportunity of working with a group of leaders of leaders and we were exploring some of their current leadership challenges. One of the more interesting topics we focused on was the *changing needs of first-time coaches*.  The consensus of my group of experienced leaders was that today’s first-time coaches need foundational coaching skills.  There are many reasons for this most of which are related to the changing work environment, matrixed organizations, less structure, and a more conflict averse coaching layer of managers.  To the experienced leader managing new leaders, this can be very frustrating. Based on research, discussions with similar leaders, and our own experiences running Business [Leadership development programs](https://www.advantexe.com/business-leadership-development-programs), here are six tips to use when coaching a first-time coach. **Follow a methodology and be consistent** The most important thing you can coach your first-time coach on is having a [coaching methodology](https://www.advantexe.com/blog/do-your-managers-and-leaders-have-effective-coaching-skills) and using it consistently.  There are a number of very good coaching models out there and the one we feel is most relevant is the [GROW coaching model](https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/GROW_model). **Acknowledge they don’t have the perfect team** First-time coaches are typically given their first team by default.  Inevitably, they are going to realize that they don’t have the perfect team and will become frustrated that they are “stuck” with employees they don’t feel are a fit.  Your job is to acknowledge it and help coach the first-time coach to recognize the reality of the situation and then help them work through the process to build their best team, **Connect with their teams often** One of the mistakes first-time coaches often make is to think their messages get absorbed and retained the first time they say them.  Our suggestion is to push your first-time coaches to connect with their teams often even if it requires pushing them. **Review the rules of engagement and expectations on a regular basis** As a follow-up to the connect often suggestion, the next suggestion to coach your first-time leaders to review the rules of engagement and expectations on a regular basis. By “rules of engagement” I am referring to how your first-time coach wants direct employees to act, behave, and engage.  For example, what is the work-at-home policy or vacation policy?  Again, the typical first-time coach may think sharing the rules of engagement once is enough and it definitely is not. **Don’t be everything to everyone** Another area to focus on is helping your first-time coaches to try not being everything to everyone.  The temptation of many first-time coaches to try to be everyone’s friend and let their new direct reports do what ever they want.  The new first-time coach must learn very quickly that they can’t do that and can’t be all things to all people. **Try not to switch perspectives too often** The final coaching point for first-time coaches is helping them not change their perspectives too often.  Another trap first-time-coaches fall into is changing their minds and perspectives too often.  With new data and new situations arising, an inexperienced coach may feel compelled to change perspectives.  Your job is to help them keep an even balance and make sure they are coming across as both thoughtful and flexible.  [![why-does-leadership-matter-infographic](https://no-cache.hubspot.com/cta/default/1153922/cbfef0cf-e318-4874-9de0-2e7fe97a1463.png)](https://cta-redirect.hubspot.com/cta/redirect/1153922/cbfef0cf-e318-4874-9de0-2e7fe97a1463) ![Robert Brodo](https://www.advantexe.com/hubfs/Blogs/rob-brodo-author.png) **About The Author** Robert Brodo is co-founder of Advantexe. He has more than 20 years of training and business simulation experience. [**](https://www.advantexe.com) [**](https://twitter.com/robrodo) [**](https://www.linkedin.com/pub/rob-brodo/0/334/574) COMMENTS ### SUBSCRIBE VIA EMAIL ### About Advantexe Advantexe is a gold medal winning training and performance improvement organization specializing in the development and delivery of interactive learning journeys using computer-based business simulations as the catalyst for learning and change in the areas of: Business Acumen, Business Leadership, and Strategic Business Selling learning solutions. 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