People Development

Coaching

Coaching - A Few Questions To Ask Yourself

1. Are you talking with your employees or at them?

Remember how your parents would stop talking and start lecturing? How "I want you to. . ." and "you should. . ." would take over the conversation? Well, coaching rule number 1: eliminate "I want" and "you should" from your vocabulary and replace them with genuine attempts to involve employees in solving problems. "What can we do about this?" will be music to their ears.

2. Can you talk about their behaviours, not their attitudes?

Research suggests that behaviours can often be changed, while attitudes are notoriously inflexible. So if you have an employee with a "bad attitude," don't criticize the attitude. Give concrete feedback on the behaviours that displease you. "I've noticed you've been late a lot recently. Anything I can help you with?" will do more to change the behaviour, and the attitude may come along for the ride.

3. Do you exaggerate when discussing their performances?

Few things turn off employees more than being the subject of an exaggeration. Instead of, "you're always rude to customers," try, "that woman might not have gotten angry had you admitted your mistake to her."

4. Do you assume the employees are out to make you look bad?

My father always thought that anything we did wrong we did for "spite." He gave us way too much credit. See mistakes as opportunities to teach rather than as conspiratorial plots to bring you down.

5. Do you follow-up on your promises?

Ever hear of the manager's double standard? That's when the manager expects employees to do what he asks, but doesn't always do what the employees ask.

6. Do you reward improved behaviour?

Two things motivate employees beyond all others: achievement and recognition. Leave your stick home and bring only your carrot to work. The results might surprise you.

Someone who played for the legendary Vince Lombardi once observed, "Coach treats us all alike. Like dogs." That approach works great if you're a football coach - or if you manage a kennel.