Coaching, Mentoring and Managing: A Coach Guidebook

146

Generally, it’s a good idea to allow the associate to assist

in the task while you perform the task essentials — not

vice versa. This allows a beginning person more freedom

to learn ... less pressure to “get it right” the first time. For

instance, if you were helping your associate learn how to

paint a wall, her part of the task might be holding the

ladder, keeping the brushes clean, etc.

Occasionally, a task is so tied to single-operator functions

that the associate can only look on while the mentor

performs it, but those situations are rare. Likewise, you

don’t have to be there to watch what your associate does.

In the mentoring session, you can discuss what happened

according to her, probe for meaning, and determine what

she feels are excellent happenings and where there are

opportunities for improvement.

Coaching, Mentoring and Managing

4

T

E

A

M

F

L

Y

Team-Fly®