X Table of Contents Introduction 1.1 Gospel Centered Training 1.2 Maintaining a Clear Focus 1.3 Weekly Development Plan Discussion 1.4 Quarterly Development Plan Discussion 1.5 Master Your Role 1.6 The Cadence of Accountability 1.7 Utilizing the Blessings of the Lord's Storehouse 2.1 Accountability and Talent Improvement (ATI) 2.2 Using the Leadership Pattern as a Learning Tool 2.3 Lead Like the Savior 3.1 Disability Awareness 3.2 Substance Abuse: Causes of Addiction 3.3 Substance Abuse: Signs and Symptoms 3.4 Substance Abuse: Recovery 3.5 Managing Stress 3.6 The Hidden Rules of Two Economic Classes 4.1 Inspiring Others to Become Converted in the Doctrine of Work and Service 4.2 Using AWARE Form as a Tool for Development 4.3 Attendance and Punctuality 4.4 Accepting the Work Role 4.5 Preparing for and Responding to Change 4.6 Managing My Work and Work Needs 4.7 Accepting Supervision 4.8 Coaching Associates on How to Work with Their Coworkers 4.9 Increasing Productivity 4.10 How to Use the Life Skills Library 4.11 History, Foundations, and the Spirit of Motivational Interviewing 4.12 The Stages of Change in Motivational Interviewing 4.13 Reflective Listening 4.14 Open-Ended Questions, Affirmations and Summaries 4.15 Change Talk 4.16 Ambivalence and Rolling with Resistance 4.17 The ABCs of Behavior 4.18 Using Positive Reinforcement to Achieve Behavioral Change 4.19 Introduction to Behavior Modification 4.20 Behavior Modification: Correcting Poor Behavior 4.21 Behavior Modification: Prompting Good Behavior 4.22 How to Use Positive Attitude to Facilitate Change 4.23 Conflict Management 4.24 Decision-Making Skills 4.25 Problem-Solving Skills 4.26 Improving Performance 5.1 Incorporating Assessment Results in the Development Plan 5.2 Ethics 5.3 Maintaining Confidentiality 5.4 Writing Effective Case Notes 5.5 Business Partnerships 6.1 Honoring Agency While Influencing Behavior 6.2 Teaching Self-Reliance
Lesson 4.4

Accepting the Work Role

Lesson Preparation

Before coming to your training, please do the following:

  • Read “Accepting the Work Role,” Deseret Industries Operations Guide, section 2, pages 39–40.
  • Think of an associate who is having a hard time adjusting to an aspect of his or her work responsibilities. Brainstorm ways to help the associate accept the work role.
 

Lesson Preview

In today's lesson you will learn about some of our society's most basic but often-overlooked workplace considerations and expectations. Observing workplace rules such as “no horseplay,” “control your temper,” and “do not use profanity” may seem like common sense, but these are actually fairly common problems. You will also learn how to teach, exemplify, and coach associates in good hygiene and grooming habits. Finally, you will gain a better understanding of how to improve associates' behaviors and attitudes regarding work roles and responsibility.

Coaching Associates to Improve Hygiene, Grooming, and Dress

From the following list, choose and complete one or more activities that best apply to your situation.

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Activity 1

Divide into small groups and review “Lesson 5: Self-Presentation” (Job Search Skills Workshop Facilitator Guide [2014], 72–83). Also review “Lesson 5: Self-Presentation” (Job Search Skills Workshop Participant Workbook [2014], 36–41). Discuss how to use these training materials to help associates improve upon their ability to accept their work roles and responsibilities.

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Activity 2

Think of an associate you currently work with who is struggling with accepting his or her work role. Divide into small groups, discuss each group member's associate, and share ideas on how to help the associate improve. Consider how to use tools such as motivational interviewing (understanding the associate's perspectives, evoking change talk, and so forth) and behavior modification (feedback, modeling, shaping, and so forth) to aid them in their coaching.

Role-play a possible conversation between you and the struggling associate to help him or her accept the work role.

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Activity 3

Divide into small groups and discuss “Dress for Success” (2014) and “Hygiene” (2014). Discuss how the information on these sheets can help you coach associates to improve their dress, hygiene, and grooming. Share any success stories you may have from helping individuals improve their dress, hygiene, grooming through suggested coaching opportunities or other methods.

Coaching Associates to Improve Anger Management

From the following list, choose and complete one or more activities that best apply to your situation.

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Activity 1

Divide into small groups and discuss “Anger Management” (2014). Discuss how the information on this sheet can help you coach associates to improve their anger management skills. Share any success stories you may have from helping individuals control their anger through suggested coaching opportunities or other methods. Consider taking time to explore the websites under “Suggested Resources.”

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Activity 2

Invite a counselor from LDS Family Services or another community resource to provide counsel about how to help individuals cope with their anger.

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Activity 3

Divide into pairs and role-play a situation in which a job coach trainer is working with an associate who has anger management problems. Have one person be the job coach trainer and the other the associate. The job coach trainer and the associate should review the ABCs of behavior as discussed in Lesson 4.17 and explore the antecedents to anger. Use motivational interviewing techniques to guide the discussion. As the job coach trainer helps the associate, you may want to:

  • Consider setting up a reinforcement schedule to help the associate reinforce control over his or her temper.
  • Explore different ways to use positive and negative reinforcement to help the associate control his or her temper.
  • Help the associate learn how to step back and take a moment to cool off instead of reacting in a negative way to stressful situations.

As a group, discuss what you have learned from the role-play.

  • What else can you do to help an associate with anger problems?

Coaching Associates to Follow Rules, Stay Focused, and Interact Appropriately with Others

From the following list, choose and complete one or more activities that best apply to your situation.

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Activity 1

Divide into pairs and use Partners In Leadership's “see it, own it, solve it, do it” philosophy to reinforce the idea of following safety rules.

Discuss the following questions:

  • See it: How must the team (or a particular associate) improve in order to follow safety rules?
  • Own it: How can I help the team (or a particular associate) follow safety rules?
  • Solve it: What specific things will I do to help the team (or a particular associate) to better follow safety rules?
  • Do it: When will I start implementing my action plan?

Record an action plan to help your team (or a particular associate) follow safety rules. Commit to follow your action plan and follow through your commitment.

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Activity 2

Divide into pairs and select one of your development plans with your associates. Take turns with your partner sharing the action steps on your plan relating to accepting the work role. Discuss how to help associates follow through on existing accepting the work role.

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Activity 3

As a group, discuss the following questions, recalling what you have learned about motivational interviewing and other similar tools:

  • How can you help an associate follow rules and stay focused?
  • How would you help a rebellious associate interact appropriately with others?

Record a few of the group's responses.

Divide into pairs. Role-play the first question with your partner and discuss what went well and what could be improved in that situation. Then role-play the second question and discuss any additional ideas you may have.

Ponder and Plan

“What Lack I Yet?”

Seek to identify a personal or business gap or need.

Spend a few minutes silently pondering what you've discussed during this lesson. Listen as the Holy Ghost helps you identify areas where you can improve. Record your impressions in your journal under the question “What Lack I Yet?”

“What Must I Do?”

Seek ways to close the gap or develop the required talent(s) to meet the need.

With the guidance of the Spirit, create your plan of how you will improve and close the gap(s) you have identified. You may use one or more of the exercises below, your own strategy, or a combination of both. Record this plan in your journal under “What Must I Do?”

  1. 1 Share with your assistant store manager, development counselor, store manager, or a fellow job coach trainer experiences you have had in coaching associates to improve their ability to accept the work role. Discuss struggles and successes as well as ways to improve your ability to coach associates to accept work rules.
  2. 2 Identify associates who need help following work and safety rules, staying focused, or interacting appropriately with others. Record how you could help them overcome these challenges.

After a few minutes, those who are comfortable doing so can share their impressions with the group.

“Therefore, What?”

Seek understanding, and then share what you learned.

During the week, focus on implementing the plan you created. Record your impressions or lessons learned in your journal under “Therefore, What?” You will be given time at the beginning of next week's lesson to share your experience with the group.

“But, behold, my Beloved Son, which was my Beloved and Chosen from the beginning, said unto me—Father, thy will be done, and the glory be thine forever.”

Moses 4:2

Additional Study Material

Use this material if you would like to learn more about helping associates accept their work role.

  • “Accepting the Work Role” (John N. Marr and Richard T Roessler, Behavior Management in Work Settings [1986], 19–27)