Do You Ever Give Up Coaching Employees?

In principle, we don't want to give up coaching employees. We want to believe that we can eventually make a difference. Sometimes it's our own ego that drives our persistence and determination.

In reality, if we have followed the coaching process, we have honored our stewardship as a coach. This is especially true if we have followed the process for a significant period of time. However, coaches often make the mistake of staking their pride and confidence as a coach on one or two challenging situations. This can be dangerous! It would be nice to believe that we have that much control over another human being. However, everyone has the right to choose their own destiny. We can't force change; we can't even motivate someone else. But, we can clarify, explain, explore, highlight, recommend, and encourage. When coaching employees, we have to decide when to "back off," and let the situation either improve or deteriorate.

For years, CMOE has advised coaches to follow-up and be persistent a little longer than expected. Coaching employees takes patience - a lot of patience! But, don't be unreasonable. If the topic permits, allow some time for the right decisions and actions to kick in. When dealing with policy, ethics, values, safety, or legal issues, explain the timeline to the coachee. We are not suggesting an ultimatum. Just explain the time sensitivity and create a time boundary.

Check in frequently with the coachee to see how they are doing, and remind them of the timeframe. If there is insufficient responsiveness or progress, this may indicate a lack of judgment, character, integrity, or indifference. When these signals arise, do a quick reality check:

  • Have you diagnosed the situation?
  • Have you tried all of the coaching skills?
  • Have you involved others in an appropriate way?

If you answer "yes" to these questions, then you need to look at your next best option to a coaching solution.

Alternatives to Coaching Employees:

  • Discuss the dilemma with the coachee. Ask for a recommendation or solution.
  • Redefine roles and responsibilities.
  • Consult with your own manager.
  • Seek good counsel from HR professionals.
  • Actively administer and institute the appropriate consequences, both positive and negative.
  • Explore a completely different assignment for the coachee with a different boss. Inform the new boss of the situation from your perspective.
  • Explore, with the coachee, whether or not he/she is a good fit for the organization. Know when enough is enough.Coaching employees takes time, energy, and patience. The bottom line is that you can't let your big coaching challenges pull you down. Remember that it takes two to tango, and "influence" has its limits.

    To find out more about how to maximize you influence when coaching employees, visit CMOE or contact one of our Regional Managers who can help you to determine you exact coaching need. You can reach them at (801) 569-3444 or email tsmith@cmoe.com

  • More Resources

    Unable to open RSS Feed $XMLfilename with error HTTP ERROR: 404, exiting

    More Coaching Information:

    Related Articles

    10 Things I Wish I Would Have Known Before I Went Into the Real World
    I must confess, I laughed when I saw that Maria Shriver has come out with a book called, "Ten Things I Wish I Had Known Before Going Into The Real World." The real world? Come on, she grew up a Kennedy and married the biggest action movie star of all time! That aside, it got me to thinking: What are ten things I wish I would have known before going out into the real world? So, here they are.
    Seeing Your Energy At Work
    Our bodies are made of pure energy. With Quantum physicswe learn that the cells of our body are made of molecules, which are made of atoms, which are made of sub-atomic particles.
    If What You Are Doing Is Not Working Change Your Approach
    And ironically the more we worry about it, the more tense we getand the more likely we are to say something stupid.Let us a take a look at some remedies:1 Learn to relax when you feel under pressure.
    Smelling the Roses: Better Living Through Savoring
    "Stop and smell the roses," people often say. Then they smile ruefully, because everybody knows there isn't enough TIME to stop or, as my daughter says, to "chill.
    Get Out What You Put In!
    During a recent coaching session with Mark, I was briefly reminded of how it feels to give your all to your business and have it spit in your face."I just don't get it! I'm putting all my time and energy into this business, and I'm still scraping by.
    The Executive Coaching Contract
    Having found a coach you feel comfortable and excited about working with, the next step is to discuss and sign the coaching contract or agreement. This is vital to ensure that both coach and client are clear from the outset about what is expected.
    How to Forgive Another for Past Hurts
    No one gets through life without being hurt by another person. We all have experienced the pain of a thoughtless remark, gossip, or lie.
    Are You Invisible?
    Ellen was brought up to be invisible. She was taught to be very tuned into others' feelings and needs, but to never have any of her own.
    3 Tips for a Great Summer - Developing Life & Business While Having a Blast
    As the last day of school arrives I feel the same tendency I had as a child..
    The Enchantment of Tribes to Belong To
    I am remembering and have a desire to share with you, a beautiful story told to me by a young lady. It was the end of the World War II and her dad was returning home.
    Discovering Your Passion and Purpose
    "I can't seem to discover why I'm on the planet.""What is my purpose here? I know there's something I'm supposed to be doing, but I don't know how to find out what it is.
    Do You Need a Performance Coach?
    In today's fast paced world, we are often confronted with the issue, "I want to get in shape, but I just don't have the time!" We all have faced it at one time or another. So, when we finally decide to get in shape we go to the gym, and then another decision hits us.
    Drop and Gimme Ten!
    Every one of us have dreams, desires and goals that we put on the shelf. In front of them are a litany of excuses -- but not one reason -- why they aren't being pursued.
    Coaching Prime Time
    An awful lot of fantastic coaching has been coming out of Hollywood lately, have you noticed? Whether it's Morgan Spurlock's feature film debut "Supersize Me"..
    Some Business Coaches are in Error
    Many business coaches deny the power of suggestion while using it. For instance a corporate inner circle will be told that they have inner conflicts with ethical practice due to the stockholders coming first, the customers coming second and employees coming third.
    Do You See Clearly?
    "I don't see how I can just make up my mind to be happy and successful; and suddenly, magically, I will be. That seems to me to be a denial of my reality.
    Crisis: Danger or Opportunity?
    I have often heard motivational speakers say that the word crisis in Chinese means both danger and opportunity. In investigating the facts, I have found running arguments on the web as to whether or not this is true.
    The Power of Online Memberships
    Have you ever noticed geese flying overhead, whether that be south for the winter, or back home in the spring? In Canada where I live, this is a regular sight and a sure sign of the seasons passing. From time to time, it's easy to notice that there is a certain pattern to the flying geese.
    Greasing the Path to Success: Finding the Confidence to Step Up to Key Moments
    Whether it's making a prospecting call to a promising business contact, giving an informal "elevator speech" to a networking group, or attempting to close a transaction, there are certain key moments when putting your best-dressed foot forward really matters. Some of life's fortunate people seem to be naturally at their best finding confidence under pressure.
    How To Overcome Stuck States In Personal Growth
    Although many of us use self-help tools like affirmations, visualizations, NLP techniques, and spiritual invocations, we sometimes find that nothing happens. This, to say the least, is disheartening.