Coach Talk: What's Up Doc?

Bob Craig

Let’s face it. When you go to the doctor next time because you don’t feel very well, you’d be upset if the nurse or the doctor didn’t take your temperature, check your pulse, and get a blood pressure reading before they ever considered figuring out what was going on with you. Those are sort of the basics, right?

So before you start figuring out what’s going on with performance, shouldn’t you be doing the same thing? You ask them how they’re doing. You help them figure out what the important things to be doing to be successful. You ask them what else they need from you. Sort of the prescription for success, right? And just like a good Doctor, you ought to know not only their vital signs but some of their history, too, like behavior style, learning style, quadrant, and what motivates them. More of just that basic kind of stuff you expect a professional to know.

If you don’t know a little history and their current vital signs, it’s pretty hard to tell what’s going on. I don’t want you looking like this confused doctor when your manager asks you what is going on with Bob!?!? Need to have a pretty solid diagnosis and a plan to get them better, right? Ehhhhh, What’s up Doc?