 Whether
you are a co-worker, a training specialist, a supervisor,
a practice administrator or a physician, you have special
responsibilities when you coach an employee and help
them take on new responsibilities confidently and successfully.
But how to do you help employees learn to handle new
and unfamiliar job tasks when you already have a busy
schedule?
This Learning and Orientation Guide will help you think
about – and prepare for – coaching employees.
You’ll find that Practice Success! Series
programs are an important part of helping your employees
practice success!
Why Learning and Orientation?
Confident, successful employees usually don't happen
by accident. Having a Learning and Orientation Plan
will enable employees to learn new skills and successfully
apply them to new responsibilities.
Learning activities help employees taking on new responsibilities
to understand basic concepts and skills that they need
to be confident and successful. When Learning is successful,
employees taking on new responsibilities will be able
use a Practice Success! Series program to:
- Identify basic concepts and skills necessary to
meet job requirements
- Know your plans for helping them learn new skills
and situations
- Ask questions and discuss information they have
learned
- Verify their knowledge about basic skills and managing
typical situations
Orientation activities help employees apply their skills
to the specific procedures and priorities at your location.
When Orientation is successful, they will also be able
to:
- Understand specific office priorities and practices
- Know how to complete specific procedures at your
location
- Discuss potential changes or improvements that
may impact their job performance
Confident Coaching
As a Coach, you wear several hats. At the same time
you are a:
Helper - You arrange for
them to have the materials, equipment and space that
they need to complete Practice Success! Series
programs and activities.
Guide - You set expectations
with the employee about training and orientation.
Mentor - You are available
to answer questions that may arise as they complete
a Practice Success! Series program.
Evaluator - You observe
and assess their progress as well as evaluate their
performance on a KZA Learning Center Verification Test
covering material in the program.
Coaching Employees to Practice Success
As a Coach, you play a key role in encouraging and
educating an employee taking on new responsibilities.
Here are some ways that you can help an employee make
the most out of their learning and orientation activities.
Help the employee you coach:
- Understand
Job Requirements
- Describe
Key Skills and Responsibilities
- Assess
Progress
- Verify
Knowledge
- Explain
the Practice Success! Series
- Create
the Opportunity for Questions and Discussions
- Explain
Specific Office Priorities and Procedures
- Discuss
Potential Changes or Improvements
Understand
Job Requirements |
|
| It
is important that employees have a clear
picture of their overall duties and responsibilities.
If the employee you are coaching will
also report to you, take the time to discuss
your expectations about their work performance.
If the employee reports to another person,
encourage that person to make time for
a detailed conversation about the expectations
they have for their employee. |
Describe
Key Skills and Responsibilities |
|
| Taking
on new responsibilities can feel overwhelming
– especially for new employees.
Break new learning into steps. Discuss
each of the Practice Success! Series
programs that the employee will use to
learn more about job basics and Success
Skills. |
Explain
the Practice Success! Series |
|
| Let
your employee know that each Practice
Success! Series program is designed
to help them gain important information
about concepts, skills and situations.
Encourage them to listen and review learning
materials as often as needed – as
well as to visit and use the Online Support
Guide. |
Create
the Opportunity for Questions and Discussions |
|
| Reassure
the employee that you are available to
help answer specific questions and explain
the way things are done at your location.
|
Assess
Progress |
|
| Don’t
take learning for granted. Remember that
some employees may hesitate to share that
a situation or idea may be confusing or
unclear. Make sure you check in regularly
with employees you are coaching while
they are using Practice Success! Series
programs. Assess how they are doing and
make sure that they are comfortable asking
questions. |
Verify
Knowledge |
|
| We
strongly encourage you to take advantage
of online tests available for each Practice
Success! Series program. Developed by
educational specialists, the results of
tests will help you determine how well
your employee understands basic concepts
and whether they need additional help
or guidance. |
Explain
Specific Office Priorities and Procedures |
|
| Since
every office is different, it’s
important to review specific priorities
and work steps that take place at your
location. Be sure to provide a copy of
written Office Procedures to your employee.
Include time to demonstrate machines or
technologies – such as a fax machine
or credit card reader – that employees
will use as part of their new responsibilities.
|
Discuss
Potential Changes or Improvements |
|
| Employees
benefit when you explain the reasons –
like insurance requirements or new technologies
– that will affect how they work.
Make sure to preview procedures that may
change; explain in advance how changes
may affect their daily activities and
procedures. |
|
|
