The ability to progress is often directly attached to the abilities that a coach has to capacitate. Employees who want to improve in the workplace will often look to a mentor for held in developing the skills that he has not yet acquired. If it one day falls to you to be the example for another, there will be some things that will be important in your moments of coaching.
Your first focus is to remain optimistic with the employee that you are coaching. They will need your support and your kudos when they perform well, and they will need positive criticism when they are struggling to meet their potential. Positive encouragement gives the employee a chance to see that you do recognize his efforts and his strengths. He will appreciate a genuine compliment and will then accept your guidance afterward.
A good example of a compliment would be in some skill that he has that has aided him as an employee. You may compliment on his organizational skills and his ability to plan ahead. It may be that you compliment him for his cheerful attitude in the workplace. When the opportunity arises, be sure to congratulate your employees for their accomplishments. Everyone has enough moments where they feel the consequences of their errors, and they do not need a coach who pours salt in their wounds.
After praising an employee for his performance, it will be important to give ideas for improvement. Coaching is nothing if it is all praise. An employee needs the opportunity to see where his faults lie and where he can improve. A good employee who seeks a coach will welcome this sort of criticism and the chance to improve. Positive criticism has everything to do with what is said and the way that it is said. Use direct specific suggestions and not generic commands for improvement. Make sure that when you do this, you give a purpose behind the improvement you suggest.
Give the employee a greater view of why your suggestion will augment his performance. If he understands how his fault is impeding the outcome in his performance, he will make the necessary changes to improve. It is in this step that you can broaden his horizon and give him a vision of his potential by saying, "if you will improve this part of your work, you can impact the company's growth significantly". Encourage your employee to become part of the company's improvement. |