Posted on May 18, 2020
What do you think about Verbal (informal) Counseling? Do you have any tips to share?
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Here are some thoughts on Verbal Counseling Guidelines!
Normally when we think of counseling we think in terms of a written counseling form. Believe it or not you counsel Soldiers every day. An informal verbal counseling could be as simple as calling a Soldier in and discussing the issue with them. By doing this you are coaching, mentoring, training, correcting substandard performance, and/or rewarding them for exceptional performance.
Some tips for conducting a verbal counseling session
o Keep it short and to the point!
o Make a note in your leader book about the time/date of your discussion. Taking notes is vital because:
o You may wish annotate the item on the Soldier’s monthly counseling
o It helps show that you have done your job as a leader and tried to correct the problem at
the lowest level
o It will shows the soldier you care about them
o You may wish to keep track of it for future reference.
o Let’s say the Soldier is late to work with no excuse. You verbally counsel and make
a note. Three days later the same thing happens. You then type up a written
counseling and in it, you state that you verbally counseled the soldier for the same
reason on ___{Insert Date/Time}.
By making a note in your leader book in front of the soldier they understand that you are serious and expect correction.
o Provides you and the chain of command with a record of actions/corrective training
o Provides a level of credibility to a situation that may be elevated.
o When you can look in your leader book and state on date and time I verbally counseled ____ about ____, senior leaders will receive that as positive action.
Verbal counseling is an excellent tool if used properly. Use it to motivate soldiers to continue exceptional performance or correct substandard performance. Remember verbal counseling can be as simple as an on the spot correction, a pat on the back, or a frank discussion.
Counseling is not always about a counseling form! It's showing you care for the Soldier, helping them grow as a Soldier and a future leader.
A good reference on the subject of counseling is a book entitled The Mentor.
Normally when we think of counseling we think in terms of a written counseling form. Believe it or not you counsel Soldiers every day. An informal verbal counseling could be as simple as calling a Soldier in and discussing the issue with them. By doing this you are coaching, mentoring, training, correcting substandard performance, and/or rewarding them for exceptional performance.
Some tips for conducting a verbal counseling session
o Keep it short and to the point!
o Make a note in your leader book about the time/date of your discussion. Taking notes is vital because:
o You may wish annotate the item on the Soldier’s monthly counseling
o It helps show that you have done your job as a leader and tried to correct the problem at
the lowest level
o It will shows the soldier you care about them
o You may wish to keep track of it for future reference.
o Let’s say the Soldier is late to work with no excuse. You verbally counsel and make
a note. Three days later the same thing happens. You then type up a written
counseling and in it, you state that you verbally counseled the soldier for the same
reason on ___{Insert Date/Time}.
By making a note in your leader book in front of the soldier they understand that you are serious and expect correction.
o Provides you and the chain of command with a record of actions/corrective training
o Provides a level of credibility to a situation that may be elevated.
o When you can look in your leader book and state on date and time I verbally counseled ____ about ____, senior leaders will receive that as positive action.
Verbal counseling is an excellent tool if used properly. Use it to motivate soldiers to continue exceptional performance or correct substandard performance. Remember verbal counseling can be as simple as an on the spot correction, a pat on the back, or a frank discussion.
Counseling is not always about a counseling form! It's showing you care for the Soldier, helping them grow as a Soldier and a future leader.
A good reference on the subject of counseling is a book entitled The Mentor.
Counseling
Performance
Coaching
Posted >1 y ago
Responses: 3
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I think every situation is different. Each troop is different and each cause of the need of counseling is different. A good leader can read the situation to come up with the best approach. There is no one size fits all.
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You pretty much covered everything! That's how I was taught as well. Best NCO I worked with was in my days as an E4. He kept detailed notes of all actions, whether his or mine. And a CPT I admired was the same way, he never "policed" anyone without having taken the time to observe, document, and counsel. And if it ever got to paper you couldn't fight it because he seemed to have a mile and a half of evidence showing everything he tried to do to correct the situation.
The only thing I might add is transparency and compassion. While documentation can be an effective part of the counseling process, all the way from verbal to paper, it's always easy to come off as an ass. We have to be very purposeful in showing that we care as professional leaders. Being upfront and sincere helps our corrections motivate change and not bitterness. It also helps us remain open for feedback in the counseling process. My two cents anyway.
The only thing I might add is transparency and compassion. While documentation can be an effective part of the counseling process, all the way from verbal to paper, it's always easy to come off as an ass. We have to be very purposeful in showing that we care as professional leaders. Being upfront and sincere helps our corrections motivate change and not bitterness. It also helps us remain open for feedback in the counseling process. My two cents anyway.
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