Career Resources

Career Resources

Coaching vs. Criticism

Posted September 23, 2013 & filed under Uncategorized

Coaching vs. Criticism

In the workplace, there are times when things can get frustrating. Whether it is a member of management or a coworker who is speaking, the difference between coaching and criticism can sometimes be confused when speaking about any issues.

Coaching consists of constructive feedback and turning negative situations into positive reinforcement. When coaching employees, it is critical to state the problems, and then state possible solutions. A great way to help is to explain possible reasons why the situation happened. The feedback given will most likely lead to the situation/problem being resolved.

Criticism is negative feedback. In most cases, the employer is blaming the employee. Angry tones and raised voices are good signs of criticism. The employee can easily get frustrated and upset. Criticism usually distracts the employee from his/her work. The issue with criticism is that the problem usually doesn’t get resolved (not long-term anyway). If the criticism happens too often, the employee may seek new employment.

Here is a clear example of the difference between coaching and criticism.

Being Late on multiple occasions

Coaching-

“Being late on a continuous basis can affect your pay, bonus potential, or chance of promotion. We value your work here, so try setting your alarm for a little earlier or leaving the house earlier.”

Criticism-

“You’re always late, and I’m getting tired of it. Because of this, you will have no bonus and definitely no promotion anytime soon.”

 

By: Kaitlin Daniel