I am frequently asked to describe what differentiates a successful employee development program from a less successful one.   In a word, my answer is “coachability.” If I could do only one thing to maximize the chance that a supervisor’s performance improvement advice would be followed by a direct report, I’d focus on helping the direct report understand WHY a positive predisposition toward change might be in the best interest of the direct report, her supervisor and the organization.  Fertile soil makes growth much easier.