importance. Being receptive to employee concerns and problems is another requirement Following are some specific suggestions for helping managers become better career counselors.
1. Recognize the limits of career counseling. Remember that. the manager and the organization serve as catalysts in the career development process. The primary responsibility for developing a career plan lies with the individual employee.
2. Respect confidentiality. Career counseling is very personal and has basic requirements of ethics, confidentiality, and privacy.
3. Establish a relationship. Be honest, open, and sincere with the subordinate. Try to be empathetic and see things from the subordinate's point of view.
4. Listen effectively. Learn to be a sincere listener. A natural human tendency is to want to do most of the talking. It often takes a conscious effort to be a good listener.
5. Consider alternatives. An important goal in career counseling is to help subordinates realize that a number of choices are usually available. Help subordinates expand their thinking and avoid being limited by past experience.
6. Seek and share information. Be sure the employee and the organization have completed their respective assessments of the employee's abilities, interests, and desires. Make sure the organization's assessment has been clearly communicated to the employee and that the employee is aware of potential job openings within the organization.
7. Assist with goal definition and planning. Remember that the employee must make the final decisions. Managers should serve as "sounding boards" and help ensure that the individual's plans are valid."
Reviewing career progress.
Individual careers rarely go exactly according to plan. The environment changes, personal desires change, and other things happen. However, if the individual periodically reviews both the career plan and the situation. he or she can make adjustments so that career development is not impaired. On the other hand, a career plan that is not kept current mpidly becomes useless. Complacency is the greatest danger once a career plan has been developed. The plan must be updated as the circumstances and the individual change