This document discusses Todd Vatalaro's coaching and learning process to address his avoidance tendencies. He scored high in avoidance on a Life Styles Inventory assessment. His goal was to be more direct in confronting problem behaviors from staff to avoid minor issues becoming major. Through email and phone conversations with his coach, he practiced providing immediate feedback and setting boundaries. For example, he gave direct feedback to an employee pushing limits and another with unprofessional conduct, instead of hoping they would self-correct. Though stressful, Todd felt relieved afterward and that it would help the employees' development and prevent future problems.

1. Coaching and Learning Process
Todd Vatalaro
2/13/2002

2. Methods
• Identified area on the LSI that we wanted to improve
• Identified tangible behaviors associated with this area
• Identified examples of problem and how it affects our
leadership and the critical purpose for our learning in this
area
• Determined specific thinking and behavioral goals
• Identified a relative and impending situation at work and
coached each other through its resolution utilizing targeted
skills

3. Methods
• Coaching and Learning experienced
through e-mail and telephone conversations
• Used prodding questions designed to induce
self-reflection
• Provided moral support and validation

4. Patti
Avoidance

5. Life Styles Inventory
Life Styles
0 2 4 6 8 10 12 14 16 18 20 22 24 26 28 30 32 34 36 38 40
Humanistic-Encouraging
Affiliative
Approval
Conventional
Dependent
Avoidance
Oppositional
Power
Competitve
Perfectionistic
Achievement
Self-Actualizing

6. Target Competency
Avoidance
• Scored the same in this category on two occasions
• A problem I recognize
Purpose
• Affects my ability to lead, particularly when
dealing with personnel problems-behavior patterns
evolve into the unacceptable-I end up dealing with
a major issue that could have been dealt with as a
minor issue

7. Tangible Behavior
• Be direct in confronting problem staff
behaviors
• Take immediate corrective action
• Provide immediate feedback
• Capitalize on Self-actualizing strengths to
keep avoidance tendencies in check
This is the only fair approach!

8. Todd’s Coaching
What does it look like to you?
I take an indirect approach when dealing with
issues. I hope that an employee will self-
correct.
I fail to establish boundaries because I don’t
confront problem behaviors.

9. Coaching
Can you give examples?
I have an employee who pushes the limits. I
tend to ignore his behavior, hoping he will
stop. I am very concerned about hurting his
feelings and ultimately end up hurting him
more by procrastinating to the point where
the situation is out of hand and I need to
take firm action.

10. Coaching
What action will you take?
I will begin to provide immediate feedback to
my staff, even when it is uncomfortable.
When?
I have reviews scheduled the last week of
January.

11. History
Clayton
• Interim Evaluation in October
• Communication style
• Professional demeanor
• Work ethic
• Time management

12. Clayton
• My tendency was to “sugar-coat”, hoping he
would take the hint
• His behavior was noticed outside my
department
• Had to be addressed at yearly review

13. Review Time
• Watched my body language
• Maintained eye-contact
• Controlled tone
• Did not waiver or diminish the problem
• Respectful, but did not spare his feelings
• Addressed another employee in the same
style, not allowing a bad habit to evolve

14. Changed Behavior
How did it feel?
I was stressed about it all week, but was very
relieved when it was over. I feel I may have
helped this young man’s professional development
and guided the other employee in the direction of
success. I am responsible for their development,
even if it’s uncomfortable. In the long run,
changing my behavior in this area will avert a lot
of stress.

15. Observation
• Different scores on LSI
• Avoidance behavior, when allowed to take
control, adversely affected my whole
inventory
• The first time I took it, I was in the midst of
this crisis, feeling very poorly about my
abilities