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Do You Ever Give Up Coaching Employees

Written by: Steven J Stowell

Article Overview: Do you ever give up coaching employees, is a thought provoking question to address. Taking in to account that we are all human and the real effects coaching can have this article addresses that very question in detail.

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 (Center for Management and Organization Effectiveness) 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

1. Discuss the dilemma with the coachee. Ask for a recommendation or solution.

2. Redefine roles and responsibilities.

3. Consult with your own manager.

4. Seek good counsel from HR professionals.

5. Actively administer and institute the appropriate consequences, both positive and negative.

6. Explore a completely different assignment for the coachee with a different boss. Inform the new boss of the situation from your perspective.

7. 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 our website at www.cmoe.com 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

Related Articles
  Training vs. Coaching
  When is Business or Executive Coaching NOT appropriate?
  Increase Employee Productivity with Coaching
  Group Coaching For The Business Professional
  Soft Skills for Business Success

Article Tags: coachi, ego, ethics, indifference, integrity, judgment, organization effectiveness, own destiny, patience, period of time, persistence, principle, reality check, responsiveness, signals, stewardship, time sensitivity, timeframe, timeline, ultimatum



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