How should a CTO respond if a trainee struggles with a specific skill?

When a trainee struggles with a specific skill, providing targeted assistance and one-on-one coaching is essential. This approach allows the CTO to tailor their instruction to the individual needs of the trainee, identifying the precise areas where the trainee is having difficulty. By offering personalized guidance, the CTO can help reinforce foundational concepts and correct any misunderstandings, thereby enhancing the trainee's overall competence and confidence in that skill area.

One-on-one coaching fosters a supportive learning environment where the trainee feels comfortable asking questions and practicing under the careful supervision of the CTO. This individualized attention can significantly accelerate learning because it addresses specific weaknesses directly, ensuring that the trainee has the necessary tools and understanding to succeed. Additionally, the implementation of constructive feedback during this coaching can help reinforce learning and facilitate improvement.

In contrast, other options such as ignoring the issue, suggesting the trainee find a mentor, or simply reassigning them to a different skill do not directly address the trainee's immediate needs. Ignoring the issue may lead to further struggle and lack of progress, while redirecting the trainee to a different skill may fail to resolve the underlying struggles, potentially leading to a pattern of difficulties in future tasks. Thus, focused and personal engagement is the most effective approach in overcoming challenges in skill development.