Without question, "What about them?" and What about you?" are the most frequent sidetracks you'll encounter as you attempt to use the 6-Step Coaching Tool to coach your employees on tweaks to performance long before corrective action or a formal process is necessary.
What are other popular Sidetracks (objections/excuses/reasons) will you hear? #3 and #4 are as follows:
3. My Tools Stink - This sidetrack is often used by an employee to point out they can't accomplish their objectives because their tools don't work correctly. Another common manifestation of this one (if you are in a service/product business) is that the product we sell doesn't work correctly, meaning they can't possibly be expected to reach their performance goals. The good news when you hear this sidetrack - hopefully you can assume that everything else is in place for them to be successful. What does the manager do with this sidetrack? Troubleshoot and assist in removing barriers as you become aware of them, and manage expectations regarding what the employee can control within their role. Additionally, regular one-on-one meetings are key in handling this type of sidetrack to inquire about obstacles.
4. The Customer Stinks - My favorite - performance struggles are due to a customer with unrealistic expectations, usually followed by the employee disengaging or avoiding the customer(s) providing the problems. What does the manager do with this sidetrack? Define acceptable customer behavior (hint - most behavior below the cussing line is acceptable - you'll always have 10% of your customer base that takes way more than 10% of your time) and then define what acceptable performance looks like for the employee with that type of customer. Once complete, hold them accountable to what you agree on.
As always, patience is key for the manager using the coaching tool. Play on!
Just for Fun - Coaching for Performance the Bull Durham Way:
Crash Davis: It's time to work on your interviews.
Nuke LaLoosh: My interviews? What do I gotta do?
Crash Davis: You're gonna have to learn your clichés. You're gonna have to study them, you're gonna have to know them. They're your friends. Write this down: "We gotta play it one day at a time."
Nuke LaLoosh: Got to play... it's pretty boring.
Crash Davis: 'Course it's boring, that's the point. Write it down.


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