Are you managing or coaching your team? Which one is more effective? 

That was my thought as I was listening to Lenny Rachitsky’s podcast interview with Canva co-founder Cameron Adams.

In case you’re not familiar with Canva, they are one of the one of the world’s most valuable private software companies, used by 95% of Fortune 500 companies. Just over a decade old, Canva has over 150 million monthly users in more than 190 countries, achieving unicorn status with $2.3 billion in annual revenue. 

And one of the unique aspects of their culture is that everyone at Canva has a coach – but not a manager. Your coach is someone who shares an expertise with you, is a few levels up, and knows how to help you grow within Canva. 

This is consistent with larger trends. As younger generations make up more of the leaders in our workforce, they want to be led in a different way. They desire coaching, not managing. 
 
Research backs this up. Gallup shows that employees are more engaged and effective with coaching. Coaching isn’t about giving orders; it’s about guiding, empowering, and fostering growth. 

In his book, Holy Shift, Dan Michelson identified five key steps to move from managing to coaching. 
 
First, provide guidance, not directions. Sharing a vision and letting your team find their own path is far more powerful. You don’t need everyone to do everything the same way you do. You want them to be able to figure things out for themselves with your guidance. 
 
Next, focus on superpower skills. Hard skills are essential, but so are the “soft” skills like communication and adaptability. Coaches help their people develop the superpower skills that lead to career advancement. 
 
Encourage self-awareness and personal growth. Help your team understand their strengths and weaknesses. Their loves and loathes. This self-awareness is crucial for personal growth. Provide tools and opportunities for reflection and goal-setting. 
 
Provide greater autonomy and ownership. Encourage your team to take charge, make decisions, and act independently. They won’t buy in if they can’t weigh in. Ownership boosts motivation and sparks innovation. 
 
Lastly, provide real-time feedback. Like in sports, where immediate feedback helps players improve, most people at work prefer quick, actionable feedback. Engage with your team daily, offering insights that help them grow. 
 
Transitioning from managing to coaching can transform your leadership and greatly benefit your team. By guiding, focusing on superpower skills, encouraging self-awareness, granting autonomy, and giving real-time feedback, you’ll create an environment where your team thrives.  
 
After all, it worked pretty well for Canva.