How to Provide Effective Feedback and Coaching

Feedback.CoachingA sales rep believed she was doing a great job because she hit her sales quota every quarter. However, her boss saw it differently. He believed she overreacted in situations. He blamed her for asking too many questions and not getting along with team members. Instead of giving her effective feedback and coaching, he let her go when sales hit an all-time low.

After she was fired from her next job, she hired a coach. They talked through the issues and she took a job fit assessment to learn more about herself and how to better manage her strengths and weaknesses. She learned that her communication style got in the way of her success, and how to resolve disagreements for win-win outcomes. She also learned how to stand up and speak up for herself when blamed. Now, she was ready for her next job.

Her newest boss was unafraid to talk straight and manage the dynamics of the whole team. Each team member was expected to respect one another and resolve conflicts in a win-win manner. This new boss was great at providing her with immediate feedback and laser-like coaching. As a result, she and her team members each excelled. They surpassed their team’s sales quota each quarter.

When bosses fail to provide effective feedback and coaching, employees fail to improve.

Providing effective feedback and coaching to teams can be tough…receiving it can be tougher. No one likes to hear they are doing their job wrong, even when are. Plus, everyone fails when bosses allow drama, gossip, and emotional meltdowns to get in the way of providing feedback and coaching. Even worse, when bosses wait…conflicts increase and customer satisfaction scores plummet.

As a boss, it’s important for you to remember some emotional reactions are normal during any feedback and coaching session. Instead of interrupting the conversation and failing to provide the needed insights, have a box of tissues handy. It’s your responsibility to set the expectations for your teams. And, it’s up to you to provide immediate feedback and laser-like coaching so each person can succeed.

6 Tips for Effective Feedback and Coaching

Talk Straight. It’s up to you to talk straight. Don’t let eye daggers, hand gestures, or inappropriate comments will get in the way of building a good team.

Be a Role-Model.  To encourage openness and honesty, you must be open and honest. Take responsibility for your actions and words. When you make a mistake, own it. Apologies work wonders. Guide your employees to do the same.

Practice Tough Conversations. Role-play with your coach before having tough conversations. Use mirror work to help you become more comfortable with delivering bad news. If you don’t sincerely want the person to succeed, you are not ready to talk with them. Keep practicing.

Get Real. Many employees want constructive feedback. And, would love to have a coach to help guide them! As their boss, get real and take responsibility for providing laser-like coaching and effective feedback.

Ensure Job Fit. Over 70 percent of employees don’t fit their jobs (Gallup). This leads to employee and boss frustration, unproductive work habits, and poor communication styles. In other words, job fit impacts everyone. When you use scientifically validated job fit assessments, you will get answers as to why employees excel and why they do not. These tools will give you what you need to provide effective feedback and laser-like coaching.

Create a Learning Environment. A well-designed learning environment creates more openness for feedback and coaching. Create micro-learning opportunities to develop technical and soft skills. Don’t forget to include sessions on moral responsibility, integrity, and honesty so everyone understands that every choice and decision has a benefit and a consequence.

When you make effective feedback and coaching a priority, your team’s results will skyrocket.

©Jeannette Seibly, 2018

For the past 26 years, Jeannette Seibly has been recognized as a catalyst and leadership expert. As an executive coach, speaker, and author, she provides straight talk with dynamic results. Improve your team’s results by learning how to provide effective feedback and laser-like coaching for each person’s success. Contact Jeannette for a preliminary confidential conversation.

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