Observation worksheet

Observation Worksheet
Use this worksheet to record your observations of a direct report’s behavior, form hypotheses about the situation, and estimate the probability of improvement.
Part I: Observing
In the table below, document the behavior you’ve observed in an employee you believe could benefit from coaching. Note the event or circumstance and dates during which you conducted the observation.
Event or Circumstance (e.g., meeting, conversation, client presentation)	Observed Behavior (e.g., three interruptions of colleagues, one inability to answer client question)	Date
Part II: Forming and Testing Hypotheses
Based on your observations, state a hypothesis about the kind of coaching the employee may need. For example, “Harriet needs to learn when to speak up and when to listen to what others have to say.”
Write down what you will do to test your theory. For example, will you ask a colleague to observe the employee and offer his or her interpretation of the person’s behavior?
Part III: Estimating the Probability of Improvement
Question			Yes	No
Would the employee be willing to receive coaching to address the performance problem or skill gap that you’ve identified?
Is the person’s performance problem or skill gap solvable (i.e., manifests itself infrequently and only in certain situations)?
If you answered “yes” to both questions, there is a high probability of improvement through coaching.