Many leaders struggle with coaching their people “in the moment” fearing their team members will perceive that they’re being micromanaged, hovered over, or their boss is trying to catch them doing something wrong. Leaders don't always see the fine line that exists between "micromanaging" a team member or "working with and helping" one. The ability of a leader to coach their people "in the moment" is not only a desirable trait; today more than ever, it's an essential way to effectively lead a team. What we've learned is that newer generations, now populating the workforce, prefer being coached in real time, rather than having to wait for a one-on-one session or a once-a-year, staged performance review with their manager. Coaching in the moment involves providing immediate feedback, guidance, and support to team members as situations arise. The importance of this real-time coaching can’t be overstated, as it builds on continuous learning and improvement, enhances productivity, and works to develop stronger relationships. Immediate intervention prevents small issues from growing or escalating and helps individuals course-correct before problems becomes larger or bad individual habits form. As a result, teams "coached in the moment" operate more efficiently, meet deadlines and achieve goals with greater ease. In-the-moment coaching shows that their leader cares and is committed to each team member’s success. By taking the time to engage with people in real-time, leaders show they are invested in their people's growth and well-being, a proactive approach that builds trust and opens up communications. From a leader’s perspective, in-the-moment coaching enables them to tailor their guidance to the specific needs and work circumstances of each team member. Coaching of this nature provides contextually relevant feedback where leaders can offer their personal experiences as examples of what they have done in similar situations. These interactions also demonstrate authenticity, letting team members know that challenges and issues are a part of growing on-the-job, experienced by the best of all team members. By consistently providing feedback and recognition in real-time, leaders help team members make habits of the right behaviors and make decisions in line with company values and performance standards. Over time, this ongoing reinforcement encourages a leadership and teamwork mindset, where individuals are inspired to put the organization first and to achieve more as an individual. Coaching-in-the-moment is not about “fixing people” or lurking over people in “search of a crime.” It's practical leadership that appeals to generational workers who will be critical to our success over the next several decades. Do you coach in the moment? Do you do it in ways that make it a consistent part of how you manage and lead others?