77. Try coaching63
I praise loudly, I blame softly Catherine "The Great", Empress
of Russia
Look at supervision as coaching, that is, providing
encouragement and advice to staff who need to take corrective action.
Here are five guidelines five Rs:
- Rehearse/visualise. Put yourself in
each of your staff's shoes. What does that person think, what resistance might
you encounter, what are his or her concerns? Be prepared.
-
Review/restate the problem or opportunity. Give your staff person ample
time to present his or her side of the story. Be a listener. Be ready to change
your mind if you don't have the full picture. State your own role in the
situation.
-
Remove the blinders. Make sure you and your staff member understand that
the issue is to improve performance in the future, not dwell on past mistakes.
Ask what the alternatives are to current performance and how it can be made
better.
-
Respond with a plan. Be proactive. Collaborate with your staff person on
developing goals, standards, deadlines and schedules.Ask for commitment. Get
your staff member to take the first step now.
-
Recycle/renew/revise. Coaching is a process, not a one-time event. It is
never over. Stay in
touch.