Starbucks Coffee Co.’s investment in dedicated workplace coaching roles reflects a growing focus on leadership development among employers, says one expert.

The coffee retailer recently introduced dedicated coffeehouse coach positions to support employee development, strengthen leadership capability and improve consistency across its stores. While coaching is becoming a bigger part of leadership development, few employers have created full-time coaching roles, says Val Upfold, a human resources consultant who specializes in the hospitality industry.

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“Most organizations still expect coaching to be part of a manager’s or HR team’s responsibilities, rather than someone’s full-time job. The challenge is that coaching is often the first thing to disappear when leaders are juggling staffing shortages,........

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