When managing your staff, capitalize on each employee’s unique strengths and tailor your coaching to their own learning styles. You can also teach your employees to value these differences – building a powerful sense of team.32
Know Your Direct Reports:
* Strengths and Weaknesses
* Triggers that activate those strengths
* Learning Style
* Goals
* Needs
According to Marcus Buckingham, author, consultant and speaker on leadership and management practices, the ultimate trigger for activating an employee’s strengths is recognition, but each employee plays to a different audience. He suggests tailoring your praise as follows:33
Tailor Coaching to Learning Style
| If An Employee Is . . . | Coach Him/Her By . . . | |
An “analyzer” |
- Giving ample classroom time |
|
| A “doer” Uses trial and error to enhance skills while grappling with tasks |
|
|
| A “watcher” Hones skills by watching others in action |
- “Shadowing” top performers |
| If An Employee Values Recognition From . . . |
Praise Him/Her By . . . |
| Peers | Publicly celebrating achievement in front of coworkers |
| You | Thanking him/her privately for being such a valuable team member |
| Others with similar expertise | Giving a professional or technical award |
For assessment instruments to help identify personality traits, individual strengths and needs, click on Resources for Managers.
Click the following links for:
How do I ensure staff engagement?
How to Recognize and Reward Your Employees
Recognition and Performance Management Tips
Motivation Tips
Motivation Tools
Staff Professional Development
