<p><b>Help your employees help themselves.</b></p><p>As a manager in today¿s business world, you can¿t just tell your direct reports what to do: You need to help them make their own decisions, enable them to solve tough problems, and actively develop their skills on the job.</p><p>Whether you have a star on your team who¿s eager to advance, an underperformer who¿s dragging the group down, or a steady contributor who feels bored and neglected, you need to <i>coach</i> them: Help shape their goals¿and support their efforts to achieve them.</p><p>In the <b><i>HBR Guide to Coaching Employees</i></b> you¿ll learn how to:<ul><li>Create realistic but inspiring plans for growth<li>Ask the right questions to engage your employees in the development process<li>Give them room to grapple with problems and discover solutions<li>Allow them to make the most of their expertise while compelling them to stretch and grow<li>Give them feedback they¿ll actually apply<li>Balance coaching with the rest of yo