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behaviors immediately. Lee may gradually need
mentoring as well — maybe from Jeff or John.- Jean needs all the help you can give her — coaching,
mentoring and counseling. The fact that she has been there
a year and acknowledges that she is doing okay suggests
that she thinks okay is good enough. Move her from okay
to great. - Jeri needs counseling, doesn’t she? You’ll have to
confront her in the counseling role about her tardiness.
Then explain the importance of communications on a
team. Clearly establish your expectations. When you are
comfortable with her performance, you could consider
someone ... maybe Mary (in light of her leadership and
project-management skills) ... to mentor Jeri, especially in
the area of communications. Once that’s done, a good
coach will look for ways to motivate her.
Personality and Your Coaching Role .................................................................
Personality enters into everything you do as a coach. You lean
toward roles in managing which fit with your personality, and
have a tendency to avoid what isn’t comfortable. That’s normal
human nature and marvelously explained by Maslow, Herzberg,
McGregor or any other motivational expert. We do more of what
makes us feel good and move away from what doesn’t. A warm,
outgoing personality may not have much fun with counseling. It’s
tough addressing people’s weak areas and calling attention to
things that must change. Likewise, a take-charge, directive
personality will lean toward telling what to do, how to do it and
when to do it. Involvement consists of let’s watch you do what I
tell you to do.
Whether you subscribe to the nature or nurture view of human
behavior and personality, with regard to coaching, like managing,
you put your preferences aside. Flexibility and adaptability are the
values that are gold to the coach. They let you learn the behaviors
that best meet the needs of the situation and the individual. Doing
makes you less uncomfortable.
Managing Within the StaffCoaching™ Model