Performance Coaching
Do your associates and managers understand how to be successful in the workplace? Do they understand how success is defined and measured? Performance Coaching is a great way to address these questions.
What is Performance Coaching?
Performance Coaching is a formal and consistent way to provide feedback and hands-on training for hourly associates. It is an on-going process which helps build and maintain effective employee and supervisor relationships. Performance Coaching is a vital component of a Labor Management System and is utilized to ensure associates understand and learn how to be successful. It is a proven management strategy to develop associate skills and abilities, boost performance, proactively address issues and challenges and be a consistent, positive interaction that helps associates reach their goals by building on their strengths and working on their weaknesses.
What are the Benefits of Performance Coaching?
Associates are a company’s number one asset and efforts should be made to get the highest level of performance from each associate. Coaching on a continuing and consistent basis is an integral component of a productivity improvement program that encourages managers to work with associates to help them develop the skills they need to be successful and achieve their maximum potential. associates who are coached and well-trained feel valued and are much more likely to be retained, which will result in higher workforce performance and reduced turnover.
Performance Coaching will start your workforce optimization efforts by focusing on your management team. Training supervisors will create win-win situations by teaching the skills they need to coach the associates they manage and emphasize positive behavior. Done effectively, coaching helps build and maintain effective relationships between associates and managers. The real benefit of a labor solution is having managers and Associates work together to drive sustainable productivity and performance gains.
How can Argent Global Services Help?
10 Tips for an Effective Coaching Program
By Ben Fronkier
Implementing an Observation and Performance Coaching Program leads to immediate and measurable productivity improvements. By helping lower performers adopt better work methods and reinforcing effective behaviors, organizations can drive performance, foster a culture of continuous improvement, and strengthen communication between management and associates.
At its core, this approach uses focused observations—a real-time “snapshot” of how work is being done—to identify opportunities, provide feedback, and guide coaching. As the old saying goes, “a picture is worth a thousand words.” In today’s fast-paced environments, that couldn’t be more true.
Below are 10 essential tips for creating a high-impact Observation and Coaching Program:
- Use the Observation Process
Many industries—from healthcare and education to warehousing and manufacturing—successfully use structured observation in tandem with coaching to identify opportunities, improve productivity, and raise quality standards.
- Really Listen (by Watching)
Observation is more than just watching—it’s about truly seeing what’s happening. Think of it as non-verbal listening. It requires focus, patience, and a willingness to understand the associate’s process before offering feedback.
- Gain Trust
Observations can make associates feel like they’re being “spied on.” Trust is earned through respectful, supportive interactions. After a few well-run sessions, associates come to see observation as a tool for support, not scrutiny.
The two primary goals of coaching:
- Improve productivity, quality, and safety at the individual level
- Identify broader opportunities that benefit entire teams or departments
- Conduct a Coaching Session
Right after the observation, conduct a one-on-one coaching session. Highlight:
- What the associate is doing well
- Specific opportunities for improvement
- Actionable steps they can take to improve
This creates immediate feedback loops and reinforces learning.
- Document Results
Effective programs record observations and coaching insights. A robust Labor Management System (LMS) like VantageRPM helps track these sessions, store feedback, and monitor associate development over time.
- Initially Focus on Low Performers
Start by working with associates who show the most room for improvement. The fastest productivity gains often come from helping low performers adopt better methods and eliminating inefficient behaviors.
- Learn from the Process
Observations aren’t just for feedback—they’re also a chance for supervisors to:
- Learn from top performers
- Identify common challenges
- Facilitate two-way communication on safety, productivity, and morale
- Conduct Regularly Scheduled Sessions
Consistency is key. Schedule observations for all associates—not just low performers. However, adjust frequency based on need: low performers may require more frequent follow-ups than high performers.
- Use Time Effectively
Each observation should last 30–60 minutes and be conducted one-on-one. Use this time not only to observe performance, but also to:
- Validate current methods
- Look for coaching opportunities
- Reinforce operational goals
- Implement Best Practices
Long-term productivity gains come from identifying Best Practices through repeated observations—then standardizing, teaching, and reinforcing them across the team.
Final Thoughts
An effective Observation and Coaching Program does more than boost numbers—it builds trust, promotes engagement, and drives sustainable improvement. With the right tools, such as Argent’s VantageRPM and a commitment to consistent coaching, organizations can unlock the full potential of their workforce.