Supportive Supervision Basics .
What Not to Say When an Employee Makes a Mistake !
( Trainers can make this a part of their content / activity / role play - if they are training first time managers / promotees / leaders leading small teams . And making their own content ! )
" When one of your employees makes a mistake, what do you say?
You might feel frustrated or angry, and ask something like “What were you thinking?” or “What went wrong?”
But those kinds of PAST-focused questions only reinforce the mistake and make the person feel defensive !
Instead, ask a question that looks forward: “How will you do it differently NEXT time?”
Focusing on the FUTURE this way allows the person to acknowledge their mistake and demonstrate what they’ve LEARNED !
Additionally, it shows that you’re confident in the person’s abilities and gives you the chance to point out any problems in their thinking.
Future-focused questions AREN'T EASY to ask when your emotions are hot ! Take a deep breath before speaking, and remember that your goal in this situation is to HELP the employee grow — and NOT to make them feel worse than they already do."
This tip is adapted from “What to Say When Your Employee Makes a Mistake,” by Peter Bregman
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