Counseling or coaching is the first step in any effort to improve employee performance. Counseling or coaching is a regular part of the interaction between a manager and an employee who reports to them, or between an HR professional and the line managers in the HR staff person's organization. Coaching often provides positive feedback about the employee's contributions. Employees need to know when they are effective contributors. The aim of performance coaching is not to make the employee feel bad about themselves, nor is it to demonstrate how experienced the HR professional or manager is. Coaching's aim is to collaborate with the employee to address performance issues and strengthen the employee's, team's, and department's work. Employees who respond positively to coaching and improve their performance can become valued contributors to the success of the business. Employees who fail to improve will find themselves placed on a formal performance improvement ...