3 THINGS NOT TO DO WHEN COACHING
We constantly talk about what to do when coaching employees, but what about what NOT to do? Whether you are coaching one employee or one hundred employees, the process of coaching can become overwhelming and often, without realizing, you may veer off your intended path. Below are 3 things you should avoid in order to keep your coaching on track.
DO NOT:
- Be Predictable:
- Your team member will certainly have some reoccurring issues through out your coaching process, but if you run every meeting the same way, it will get stale, and the interest of you and the team member will take a dive. Try to mix up where you meet, what time of day you meet, the order of things you discuss etc.
- Talk too much:
- Effective coaching sessions are not training sessions. You’re a manager, not a trainer or consultant so don’t run your meetings as such. (Typically workshop style training doesn’t work well anyways). Sessions should be about getting the team member to open up about their top issues, and you guiding them to a suitable solution. If you are talking the whole time how will you know what their issues are? To get to the root of issues requires LISTENING not TALKING!
- Have no plan:
- While we do recommend mixing things up to keep interest and participation up, you must have a plan about what needs to be accomplished during that meeting. If you aren’t sure what you’re trying to accomplish, how will your team member? Do you want to discuss issues covered last week? Is there a particular skill you see them struggling with that you would like to bring to their attention? Is there something they did you want to congratulate them on? What’s covered is really up to you, but whatever it is make sure you have a plan written down so you make sure you hit all your topics.
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