When Does Anytime Coaching Happen?

Once an employee has the basic skills to perform his or her job, as well as an understanding of the job itself and its contribution to the bigger picture, Anytime Coaching can happen at any time during the workday. Anytime Coaching happens when an employee is challenged to develop new abilities, gain deeper understanding, make difficult decisions and tradeoffs, or exercise new skills to tackle obstacles, small and large—on the way to getting good work done. Managers can provide Anytime Coaching when the inevitable changes, obstacles, confusion, and questions arise as work is done.

Anytime Coaching happens—needs to happen—in situations like the following:

An employee’s understanding of the job is challenged by others.

An employee’s peer fails to deliver information required for the employee to do the job well.

The input provided is not what is expected, or it is late.

Resources shrink or disappear, making daily work more difficult.

An employee is not completing day-to-day tasks on time.

Organizational priorities change.

An employee realizes he or she has more tasks than seem possible to accomplish in the time allotted.

What the employee produces does not match expectations.

A deadline is missed.

Things do not go as promised.

These and a whole host of other daily challenges are starting points for Anytime Coaching.

Let’s not forget that Anytime Coaching also happens when there is good news. When an employee solves a difficult problem independently or consistently delivers excellent performance, an anytime coach makes sure to recognize and reinforce the positive outcomes. This means delivering more than a simple compliment like “Nice job!” Anytime coaches notice positive actions and take the time to say, “Here is what I see you doing, and here is why it is appreciated.” Linking specific skills and behaviors with positive reinforcement encourages improved performance. Anytime coaches keep a balance in their employee conversations between positive reinforcement and change-oriented coaching.