Prepare the employee

To prepare your direct report for coaching, have the person appraise his or her work performance. Ask:

• "To what extent have you achieved your goals?"
• "Which goals, if any, have you exceeded?"
• "Are there particular goals that you're currently struggling to achieve?"
• "What is preventing you from reaching your goals? Is it lack of training, resources, or direction from me?"

If the purpose of the coaching is to prepare someone for a new job or a higher level of responsibility, ask the person to compare his or her current competencies against those required by the new position or responsibility, and to identify any gaps.

Implementing these forms of self-appraisal has the following benefits:

• The employee plays an active role in the coaching experience.
• A tone of partnership is established.
• The employee becomes more open to feedback from you.
• You gain a new perspective on the person's work and reduce the risk of misjudging the situation.