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Coaching Essentials for Managers

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Summary

Coaching Essentials for Managers is a practical development programme designed to help managers adopt a more effective coaching approach when leading, supporting and developing their teams.

The course explores how managers can move beyond simply directing and problem-solving for others by developing coaching skills that encourage responsibility, ownership and personal growth. Participants learn when to use a coaching approach, when a more directive management style may be appropriate and how to apply both effectively within day-to-day management situations.

Throughout the programme, delegates develop practical skills in active listening, skilled questioning, constructive feedback, positive support and trust-building. These core coaching behaviours help managers create more productive conversations, strengthen working relationships and improve team performance.

The course also examines how coaching skills can be applied to common management responsibilities, including setting objectives, delegation, one-to-one meetings, career conversations, feedback discussions and performance management. Participants learn practical techniques that can be used immediately to support colleagues whilst maintaining accountability and achieving results.

Using discussion, reflection, self-assessment and workplace scenarios, delegates gain greater awareness of their own management style and identify opportunities to develop a more collaborative and empowering approach to leadership.

This course forms part of our wider Primary Care Leadership Training pathway and complements our Leading in Primary Care and Health Coaching, Behaviour Change and Personalised Care Training programmes.

Aims

This practical programme helps managers develop the coaching skills needed to support performance, build trust and create more productive conversations within the workplace.

  • Understand the difference between directing, managing and coaching approaches
  • Recognise when a coaching style is most appropriate and when a more directive approach may be required
  • Develop active listening and skilled questioning techniques that encourage ownership and accountability
  • Build trust through openness, honesty and effective communication
  • Learn how to use coaching conversations to support individual and team performance
  • Strengthen skills in giving constructive feedback and positive support
  • Develop confidence in handling performance conversations and one-to-one meetings
  • Explore how coaching approaches can support delegation, objective setting and career development discussions
  • Understand how to create collaborative conversations that encourage engagement and problem-solving
  • Identify personal management strengths and areas for development
  • Develop practical techniques that can be applied immediately within the workplace

Participants leave with a range of coaching tools and communication techniques that help managers support others whilst maintaining accountability and achieving organisational goals.

Managers wishing to further develop leadership capability may also be interested in our Leading in Primary Care programme. Those looking to strengthen listening, communication and behaviour change skills may benefit from our Communication & Patient Experience Training and Health Coaching, Behaviour Change and Personalised Care Training programmes.

How Long Is The Course?

This programme is typically delivered as a five half-day interactive workshops.

The course combines practical teaching, discussion, self-assessment, workplace scenarios and skills practice, enabling participants to develop coaching techniques that can be applied immediately within day-to-day management situations.

Delegates explore real workplace challenges relating to delegation, feedback, objective setting, performance conversations, career development discussions and one-to-one meetings, whilst building confidence in using a coaching approach to support others.

The programme can also be adapted to meet the specific needs of individual organisations and management teams.

Those wishing to further develop leadership capability may also be interested in our Leading in Primary Care programme and wider Primary Care Leadership Training pathway.

Who Should Attend?

This programme is designed for managers, supervisors and team leaders who want to develop a more effective coaching approach when supporting and developing others.

  • Practice Managers
  • Deputy Practice Managers
  • Assistant Practice Managers
  • Primary Care Network Managers
  • Team Leaders
  • Supervisors
  • Care Navigation Leads
  • Reception and Administration Managers
  • Clinical Team Leaders
  • Project Leads
  • Primary Care Network Clinical Directors
  • GP Partners
  • Anyone responsible for supporting, developing or managing others

The course is particularly valuable for managers who want to move beyond a purely directive approach and develop the listening, questioning, feedback and coaching skills needed to build confidence, accountability and performance within their teams.

Additional Information

The full course curriculum is detailed below.

Understanding the Coaching Manager

  • Exploring the role of the coaching manager
  • Understanding the relationship between management, leadership and coaching
  • Recognising when to use a coaching style and when a more directive approach is appropriate
  • Supporting performance through effective management behaviours
  • Developing a flexible approach to leading and managing others

Management Styles and Coaching Behaviours

  • Understanding the balance between directing and coaching
  • Recognising the impact of different management styles
  • Building awareness of personal management preferences
  • Identifying behaviours that encourage ownership and accountability
  • Developing a more collaborative approach to management conversations

Listening, Questioning and Building Trust

  • Developing active listening skills
  • Using skilled questioning to encourage reflection and problem-solving
  • Building trust through openness, honesty and consistency
  • Creating conversations that encourage engagement and participation
  • Supporting others to find their own solutions and actions

Feedback and Performance Conversations

  • Giving constructive feedback that supports development
  • Providing positive support and recognition
  • Addressing performance issues effectively and professionally
  • Managing challenging conversations with confidence
  • Supporting continuous improvement through regular feedback

Coaching in Everyday Management Practice

  • Applying coaching skills to objective setting
  • Using coaching techniques during delegation discussions
  • Supporting career development conversations
  • Improving the effectiveness of one-to-one meetings
  • Using coaching approaches to strengthen team performance

Building Trust and Effective Working Relationships

  • Understanding the importance of trust in coaching conversations
  • Developing openness, honesty and consistency as a manager
  • Creating environments where people feel valued and supported
  • Strengthening workplace relationships through coaching behaviours
  • Using communication skills to improve engagement and collaboration

Collaborative Conversations

  • Preparing for effective conversations
  • Opening discussions with purpose and clarity
  • Exploring different perspectives and viewpoints
  • Working collaboratively to resolve differences
  • Agreeing actions, accountability and follow-up arrangements

Developing Your Coaching Style

  • Assessing current coaching and management behaviours
  • Identifying strengths and development opportunities
  • Building confidence in coaching conversations
  • Creating a personal development action plan
  • Applying learning within the workplace

Throughout the programme, participants explore real workplace scenarios and develop practical coaching skills that can be applied immediately to support performance, engagement and development within their teams.

The course complements our Leading in Primary Care, Communication & Patient Experience Training and Health Coaching, Behaviour Change and Personalised Care Training programmes.

Delegate Feedback

Coaching Essentials for Managers
SE Combined Client - 28th April 2026

delegates completed evaluations, each scoring 4 domains out of 6

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