Managerial Coaching Skills and Job Satisfaction in Micro Restaurant Sector of North East Nigeria: Mediating Role of Sustainable HRM

Abstract

Purpose – Managerial coaching skills are increasingly recognized as a critical component for enhancing employee well-being and sustaining human resource practices in small service businesses. This study investigates the relationship between managerial coaching skills, sustainable human resource management (HRM), and job satisfaction, focusing on the mediating role of sustainable HRM in the micro restaurant sector of North Eastern Nigeria. Design/methodology/approach – Data were collected from employees working in micro restaurants across selected cities in North Eastern Nigeria. A structured questionnaire was used to obtain responses, and a structural equation modeling (SEM) technique was employed to analyze the hypothesized relationships and test the mediating effect of sustainable HRM. Findings – The results reveal that managerial coaching skills have a strong positive and significant relationship with job satisfaction. Similarly, sustainable HRM is positively associated with job satisfaction. The study also establishes a significant positive relationship between managerial coaching skills and sustainable HRM. Furthermore, sustainable HRM was found to significantly mediate the relationship between managerial coaching skills and job satisfaction, indicating that effective coaching practices enhance sustainable HRM, which in turn improves employee satisfaction. Research limitations/implications – The study is limited to the micro restaurant sector in one region of Nigeria, suggesting the need for future studies to include other regions and sectors. Practical implications – The findings highlight the importance of developing managerial coaching competencies to strengthen sustainable HRM practices and foster higher employee satisfaction in small restaurant businesses. Originality/value – This study contributes to the growing body of knowledge on coaching and sustainability by empirically linking managerial coaching skills, sustainable HRM, and job satisfaction within the micro-restaurant context in Nigeria.