Employee counseling involves direct communication between a supervisor and employee to address poor performance and identify ways for improvement. It is generally a more formal process than feedback and is used when additional action is needed following coaching. The purpose is to communicate concerns, determine the cause of issues, and establish an improvement plan. A counseling session should define objectives, review facts, and create an outline. It should be conducted privately and include active listening and identifying the root cause of problems. If appropriate, the session may result in a written memo for the employee's file.