How to observe

One of the key skills in coaching is to observe the behavior of an employee to look for safe behavior you can encourage and risky behavior that can be corrected. The first step is to make a checklist of critical actions for the task the person is doing. Examples of critical safe actions include:

* driving a forklift at a safe speed
* removing tools from walkways when working
* using eye protection when cutting with a chainsaw

When starting out, create a short checklist of critical safe and risky actions, since a long list can be overwhelming and keep you from wanting to coach. Start small, and build the list over time.

When observing, remember you are not just looking for risky behavior, but also safe behavior to support and encourage.