Coaching field note
Coaching Mindset: Are You Throwing in the Towel?
A difficult coaching moment asks a manager to balance persistence with judgment. Pushing without listening can damage trust, while withdrawing support too early can leave development unfinished.
Use evidence before deciding
Return to the competency being practiced, the observations already recorded and the employee’s own account of the situation. Those details help distinguish a temporary setback from a deeper mismatch in preparation or support.
A strong coach adjusts the next step to the evidence: more practice, a clearer standard, a smaller goal or a candid decision about the role.