Conversation Planner · for managers
How to talk to an employee who makes careless mistakes
Read the approach below, or skip ahead and get a plan written for your own situation.
Plan my conversation — free ↓Why the usual approach fails
"Be more careful" is not an instruction anyone can follow. Careless-looking work is nearly always a missing or skipped checking step, not a character flaw. Coach the process and the errors drop; criticize the person and they get anxious, which makes errors worse.
How to open
"I want to look at one thing with you: three of the last five reports went out with errors the client caught. I'm not questioning your ability — I want to understand how the work gets checked before it leaves."
Ask before you tell
- "Walk me through what you do between finishing and sending."
- "Where do the errors tend to creep in?"
- "What would a quick final check look like for you?"
What to agree before you leave the room
A short pre-send checklist they design themselves. Review the next five pieces of work together against it.
Make it yours — free
Edit the details below to match your situation and get a full five-step COACH plan by email.
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Built on the COACH method by Jon Kludt, Business Coach · Certified EOS Implementer® · thecoachconversation.com