In the context of employee development, what does "coaching" typically involve?

Coaching in the context of employee development is fundamentally about providing personalized guidance aimed at improving individual employee performance. This process often includes one-on-one interactions where a coach works closely with an employee to identify strengths and areas for improvement. The aim is to foster growth, enhance skills, and encourage the employee to reach their full potential in their specific role.

Coaching differs from team-building activities, which typically focus on fostering collaboration and cohesion among team members rather than addressing individual performance. While performance evaluations provide an assessment of an employee’s overall work and can identify areas needing improvement, coaching is more hands-on and supportive, focusing specifically on developing the employee's abilities. Similarly, online training courses generally provide standardized knowledge or skill development rather than the tailored, contextual support that coaching offers. Coaching is thus a distinct and essential part of employee development, emphasizing personalized support to drive individual success.