Coaching versus managing in Agile

Last updated Jun 5, 2023

Management is about giving direction, while coaching is about teaching.

• Managing
• Coaching

• Project manager’s responsibilities
• In Agile teams are self-organizing
  • [Agile manifesto](danielesalvatore/project-management/agile-project-management/agile-manifesto.md#Team dynamics and culture)

• Two-way communication style aimed at Influencing and developing team members’ skills
• Coaching empowers team members to arrive at solutions on their own by teaching them critical thinking and decision-making skills

Principles:

• Motivate
• Support
• Encourage and appreciate:

Coaches motivate team members to take action. They point out the value in others’ work and instill within them a sense of pride in what they do.

Coaches are an accessible resource for their team to come to when they experience problems or if they have an idea they want their feedback on.

When someone on their team is struggling with a heavy workload, a coach will acknowledge and validate the weight of their efforts and assure them that they are capable of handling the challenges ahead.