1. Counsel a Subordinate LP 150-IMT-7003
Click on “Common Curriculum Development Division” to go to the IMT Lesson Share Point Site.

2. TYPES OF DEVELOPMENTAL COUNSELING
Event counseling
Instances of superior or substandard performance.
Reception and integration counseling.
Crisis counseling.
Referral counseling.
Separation counseling.
Performance counseling
Professional growth counseling

3. CHARACTERISTICS OF THE LEADER AS A COUNSELOR
Purpose
Flexibility
Respect
Communication
Support

4. QUALITIES OF THE LEADER AS A COUNSELOR
Respect for subordinates
Self-awareness
Cultural awareness
Empathy
Credibility

5. COUNSELING SKILLS
Active Listening
Responding
Appropriate Questioning

6. KEY COUNSELING PRACTICES
Give the subordinate your full attention
Remain objective about the matter to be discussed
Encourage the subordinates to take the initiative and to speak aloud
Try to understand what the subordinate says and feels; listen closely to what is said and how it is said
Listen more and talk less
Sometimes listening is more important than talking.
Usually, in fact!

7. KEY COUNSELING PRACTICES (Cont)
Keep your personal experiences out of the counseling session, unless you believe your experiences will really help.
When asking questions be sure the information is needed.
Avoid confirming a subordinate’s expected prejudices.
Draw conclusions based on more factors than the subordinate’s statement.
Know what information to keep confidential and what to report to the chain of command.

8. ACCEPTING LIMITATIONS
Can't help every situation
Recognize personal limitations
Seek assistance when needed
Refer subordinate to an agency more qualified to help

9. ADDRESSING RESISTANCE
Reconfirm the purpose of the counseling session.
Keep the discussion professional and balance in tone.
Discuss the suspected resistance openly with the subordinate and respect his or her response.
Slow the tempo of the sessions.
Focus on one specific behavior and the effect and the consequences to minimize overwhelming the subordinate.

10. ADAPTIVE APPROACHES TO COUNSELING
Nondirective
Directive
Combined

11. Counseling Approaches
Advantages
Disadvantages
Nondirective
Encourages maturity. Encourages open communication. Develops personal responsibility.
More time-consuming.
Requires greatest counselor skills.
Combined
Moderately quick. Encourages maturity. Encourages open communication.
Allows counselors to use their experience.
May take too much time for some situations.
Directive
Quickest method. Good for those needing clear, concise direction.
Allows counselors to use their experience.
Does not encourage subordinates to be part of the solution.
Treats symptoms, not issues.
Tends to discourage subordinates from talking freely.
Solution is the counselor’s, not the subordinate’s.

12. Nondirective or Combined
Techniques
Nondirective or Combined
Directive
Suggesting Alternatives
Recommending
Persuading
Advising
Corrective Training
Commanding
Confidentiality vs Reporting vs Discretion

13. THE FOUR-STAGE COUNSELING PROCESS
Identify the need for counseling
Prepare for counseling
Conduct counseling
Follow-up

14. STAGE 1: IDENTIFY THE NEED FOR COUNSELING
Required evaluation or command-directed counseling
Counsel whenever focused, two-way communication aimed at the subordinate’s development is needed

15. STAGE 2: PREPARE FOR COUNSELING
Select a suitable place
Schedule the time
Notify the subordinate well in advance
Organize information
Outline the counseling session components
Plan the counseling strategy
Establish the right atmosphere

16. STAGE 3: CONDUCT THE COUNSELING SESSION
Open the session
Discuss the issues
Develop a plan of action
Record and close the session

17. STAGE 4: FOLLOW-UP Support subordinate in implementing the plan
Provide additional time, referrals, and other appropriate resources
Teach, coach, mentor
Modify the initial plan of action, if needed, to meet its goals
Assess the plan of action

18. SUMMARY Types of developmental counseling The leader as a counselor
The qualities of the counselor
Adaptive approaches to counseling
Counseling techniques
The four-stage counseling process

19. Backup Slides

20. DEVELOPMENTAL COUNSELING FORM
DA Form 4856
Front

21. DEVELOPMENTAL COUNSELING FORM
DA Form 4856 Reverse