Unit Counseling Program Class
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Counseling
Subordinate-centered communication that outlines actions necessary for subordinates to achieve individual and organizational goals.
Why should counseling lead to the achievement of goals?
Subordinate-Centered (Two-Way) Communication
Subordinates assume an active role in the counseling sessions and maintain responsibility for their actions. The following skills assist leaders in subordinate-centered counseling:
Active listening
Responding
Questioning
Why should the subordinate be active in the session?
The Leader as a Counselor
Leaders have a responsibility to develop their subordinates.
During counseling, the leader acts primarily as a helper, not a judge.
When should a leader counsel to develop subordinates?
How can a leader be both an evaluator/judge and a helper/counselor?
The Leader as a Counselor (con’t)
The following qualities help the leader to assume an effective role during a counseling session:
Respect for subordinates
Self and cultural awareness
Credibility
Empathy
How do these qualities assist leaders in counseling?
The Reason for Counseling
To help subordinates develop in order to achieve organizational goals and objectives.
This overriding theme of “subordinate development” includes helping subordinates to improve (or maintain) performance, solve problems, or attain goals.
Counseling requirements are also integrated into the evaluation system.
Event-Oriented Counseling
Counseling centers around a specific event or situation and is personal in nature
Examples include:
Reception and Integration – Promotion Counseling
Corrective Training – Referrals
Separation – Crisis
Positive Performance
Performance Counseling
Includes OER / NCOER / TAPES counseling requirements
FM 22-100 (Chapter 2, 1999 version) outlines values, attributes, skills, and actions
FM 22-100 (Appendix B, 1999 version) establishes performance indicators for the 23 leadership competencies
Professional Growth Counseling
Includes Pathway to Success and Career Field counseling
Counseling is future oriented based on an established time line
Cultural Awareness and Diversity
Mental attribute of a leader
Leaders should focus on the similarities and differences between individuals
Leaders need to make use of the different talents individuals with different backgrounds bring to the team
Cultural Awareness Within the Unit Counseling Program
What leader actions demonstrate genuine concern about cultural awareness within a unit?
What command climate indicators give an indication of the level of cultural awareness within the unit?
Cultural Awareness Within the Unit Counseling Program (con’t)
How does an effective unit counseling program reinforce/emphasize cultural awareness between leaders and subordinates?
What do you do once a situation that denigrates another person is identified?
Cultural Awareness Within the
Unit Counseling Program (con’t)
What are some leader’s actions that support cultural awareness within the unit?
A Unit Counseling Program Should:
Strengthen the Chain of Command
Clarify policies and procedures
Reinforce standards
Prevent rumors
Praise success
Avoid surprises
Develop responsible subordinates
Performing the Assessment
Query personnel from the unit as part of normal conversation
Review counseling records
Observe counseling sessions
Use a survey instrument
Improving a Unit Counseling Program
Develop a plan to improve the program
Implement the plan
Follow-up with an assessment of the results of the plan
The Unit Counseling Program
A company level leader’s responsibility
A dynamic system of skilled leaders helping subordinates to develop
Takes time, energy, and effort to build and sustain
An investment in leader development and the unit
