Often, it is assumed that people who are being coached have a mindset that accepts change. However, this is not always the situation, as trainees may be agreeable to being coached but at the same time resist new ideas.

Sometimes employees resist making changes. One technique that can be used to challenge an employee to do the best they can do, or to change their behavior, is to draw out a four-quadrant matrix:

This matrix should be filled in by the person who is being asked to make the changes (such as the employee). This is a way to give them control over the decisions they make, yet at the same time see the situation from a different perspective.

Whether a matrix is used, or another type of activity, remember to include documentation. Coaching, like any leadership activity, requires a paper trail.