Motivational approaches are ways of increasing employees’ sense of ownership of their performance. Coaching can also be an effective way to encourage and enhance effective performance. Managerial supportiveness, availability, and willingness to work with employees will create an environment where employees will demand coaching from their managers because they will be energized to improve.

This is important because if an employee does not have the desire to improve, a coaching discussion will likely be perceived negatively, and the employee will resist the manager’s efforts. The manager-coach can observe the employee, describe specifically what the employee is doing and how they are doing it, and then make suggestions for improvement. Communication and partnership are vital to effective coaching. An employee who does not invite coaching may resent the manager’s efforts and feel threatened or insulted.

Another way to encourage continued effective performance is to communicate and reinforce the organization’s values. Values can serve as guides for behavior that help employees know what is expected and how to behave. Value shaping can only occur if the organization has a strong corporate culture and a clear set of values to begin with.