Telling Is NOT Coaching

A manager was venting
about her problems
with a shared junior analyst.

That surprised me
because I was overjoyed
with this analyst
so I asked how she was coaching her.

Her reply was
“I tell her things again and again
but she doesn’t get it.”

“But how are you COACHING her?”
I repeated.

Telling is quick and easy
and oh so tempting to do
but it is NOT coaching.

Telling is pointing “Go there!”
Because the employee
doesn’t know why or when she should go there,
she ends up having to ask
if there is any variation however small
in the process.

Coaching is creating a map together
and then walking beside the employee.
The employee then has a map,
she can refer to it
when other situations arise.

Telling is quicker short term.
Coaching is quicker long term.
If your employee is a long term investment,
coaching is usually your better option.