Tailored Approach

by Mark McClanahan

Having multiple direct reports is typical for any leader, and it can be argued that the strength or weakness of your direct reports is proportional to your performance as a leader. One underperforming direct report can often point to a weakness in your leadership. So, the more you focus on your direct reports’ successes and development, the more you’ll succeed as a leader.

Thus, coaching is an important technique of an effective leader. How well you coach and manage your team can sometimes pose a challenge, especially if you approach each member as if they were all identical. It’s even more difficult if you treat them like you want to be treated. I’ve made both mistakes and learned it’s necessary to tailor my coaching style to each personality type and the needs of the individual.

To fashion my coaching, I created a dossier for each person, which I refer to as my direct report quick sheet. This tool is made up of bullet points and is no longer than two sides of a sheet of paper. It provides information that can be quickly digested for mentoring and providing the right guidance for my direct report.  

Using this tool, include anything you consider relevant to developing your personnel. I’ve focused mine on a few areas I find important, including the person’s DiSC profile, his or her preferred work environment, how the individual handles conflict, what motivates the person, what potentially demotivates him or her, and what key development areas the person is currently working on. I keep this quick sheet with each team member’s one-on-one notebooks and refer to it often. All this effort contributes to my having a tailored approach in coaching and leading my team.

Mark McClanahan (mmcclanahan@callmosby.com or 314.909.1800) is the chief operating officer at Mosby Building Arts.