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5 ways new managers benefit from coaching and mentoring

Stepping into a managerial role for the first time can be a big transition. Not only are new managers expected to take on more responsibilities, but they also have to acquire critical leadership skills in a short period of time. This can be a very steep learning curve for people who have never been in a leadership position before.

To set your new managers up for success – and see the benefits trickle down to the rest of the organization – we recommend offering leadership coaching and mentoring programs. 

Mentoring and coaching can benefit anyone. But they’re an especially relevant offering for new managers, who can use these programs to develop the skills they need to thrive in their roles and better serve their teams and direct reports. Below are five specific benefits that mentoring and coaching can offer your new managers.

1. Better management skills

Coaching and mentoring provide opportunities to develop and hone specific skill sets that are essential to being a good manager. This can include anything from learning how to be a better communicator to understanding how to provide high-quality feedback. These are all skills that will allow managers to better support and develop their teams.

While acquiring new skill sets is something managers can do on their own, having a leadership coach or mentor can accelerate the process and give them access to firsthand knowledge that might not have been available to them otherwise. That’s why 92% of Torch’s mentees report increased skills for the job and why 70% of leaders who receive coaching benefit from improved work performance, relationships, and more effective communication skills.

2. Improved productivity

One of the biggest challenges a first-time manager might face is learning how to balance all of their new responsibilities – from having one-on-one meetings with direct reports to attending more strategic leadership meetings. Without understanding how to manage their time well, they may struggle to be productive and could end up with disgruntled team members who feel like their needs aren’t being met. 

A coach or mentor can be hugely helpful in this regard. They can teach managers how to develop better time management skills and prioritize responsibilities. A study found that managers who went through eight weeks of leadership coaching, in addition to their conventional training, increased productivity by over 22% compared to those who didn’t. 

3. Increased confidence  

First-time managers may also experience a lot of self doubt. This is completely normal when learning a new set of skills or being in an unfamiliar role. But, unaddressed, it can cause long-term problems for both the manager and the rest of the company. A lack of confidence will inevitably lead to poor performance, low self awareness, and an inability to provide helpful guidance to direct reports. 

Coaching and mentoring sessions are a great tool to build self confidence. Why? These relationships give managers a feedback loop, which allows them to have an accurate sense for where they excel and specifically which areas they can improve in. Torch’s own database found that 92% of our mentees report improved confidence in handling challenges, and The Institute of Coaching revealed that 80% of people who receive coaching report increased self-confidence as well. 

4. Heightened self awareness

It can be difficult for new managers to know how they’re performing in their roles. After all, if this is their first time in a leadership role, they have no benchmarks or past performance to compare themselves to. Without developing this self awareness, managers may end up overestimating or underestimating their abilities – which can be detrimental not only to them, but also their team members. 

Mentors and coaches can serve as a valuable sounding board to improve a manager’s sense of self awareness – whether that’s achieved through two-way dialogue or helpful feedback. At Torch, we also offer a proprietary 360° Leadership Assessment that evaluates people across three primary leadership domains. This tool helps managers understand where they currently stand and, through self reflection and peer feedback, track their progress. 

5. Greater wellbeing

Being a new manager is stressful. They’re suddenly expected to take on additional responsibilities – on top of their existing workload – and may not feel like they have the resources to succeed. This can be a very isolating experience and has the potential to lower a new manager’s sense of wellbeing and overall job satisfaction. 

Thankfully, research has shown that leadership coaching and mentoring can mitigate these negative effects. Having a supportive relationship with a coach or mentor can help managers feel less alone in their journey and better navigate their new roles. This, in turn, can relieve some of the stress and anxiety they’re feeling. In fact, people who received leadership coaching reported greater workplace well-being and resilience, and 91% of individuals who have a mentor are satisfied with their jobs.

New managers need as much support as they can get. By giving them the opportunity to partner with a leadership coach or mentor, you’re setting them up for success in more ways than one – from learning ways to manage their time better to identifying what their strengths and weaknesses as a leader are. Want to learn more about Torch’s coaching and mentoring offerings? Request a demo below.