How do you balance team assessments with training and coaching?

In a culture of accountability- that is, where the leader has made clear what is expected, and the leader themself reports on the leader's own performance to their subordinate team- "assessments" can largely be integrated into routine communication. In a culture of accountability, communication about performance should be transparent and frequent, multiple times/week at least. In this environment, every team member expects to be held accountable, and being assessed is humdrum- a neutral experience, not negative or punitive. Training and coaching would always arise from the results of all this accountability. Whatever is missing as per the ongoing assessments will be the focus of the training and coaching.

Balancing team assessments with training and coaching has always been a critical part of my leadership. Assessments give a clear picture of where the team stands, highlighting strengths and weaknesses. Training provides the skills needed to improve, and coaching guides the application of those skills. I've found that continuous assessments intertwined with personalized training and regular coaching sessions help in aligning team goals and fostering growth. It's a fluid process, where assessments inform the training and coaching needs and the learning, in turn, influences future assessments. "The only thing worse than training your employees and having them leave is not training them and having them stay." – Henry Ford.

Training and coaching form a dynamic duo, providing your team with invaluable avenues for growth. Think of training as a formal classroom where new skills and knowledge are imparted, while coaching serves as the supportive guide to enhance performance and unlock potential. To maximize the impact, align these approaches with assessment results and team objectives. It's vital to tailor training and coaching methods to your team's unique learning preferences. Flexibility is key! Finally, gauge the results. Assess learning, performance shifts, behavioral changes, satisfaction, and gather feedback to fine-tune your strategy. Together, training and coaching can sculpt a team that's ready to conquer any challenge.

One way is to assess your calendar to ensure you have quality meetings over quantity. It’s easy to fill up the calendar without noticing it’s a meeting you really don’t need to be a part of. If the meeting doesn’t mention the ‘why’ and what the goals are then it may not be worth your time. This will allow you to be accessible to your team for coaching and mentoring. Leaders needs to build the bench and provide feedback to their team!