Combined counseling style stresses that:

• A. Planning and decision making are the responsibility of the subordinate
• B. The employee is the agency's number one resource
• C. Immediate supervisors are the best to see evidence of early problems
• D. The supervisor's role is to complete administrative tasks

Answer: (A)

Combined counseling shifts planning and decision making toward the employee, with the supervisor acting as a coach. In this style, the employee takes the lead in defining goals, weighing options, and choosing actions, while the supervisor provides guidance, feedback, and support to develop the employee’s skills. This ownership helps the employee grow confidence and accountability, rather than having the supervisor dictate every step or handle administrative tasks. The other statements describe roles or ideas that don’t capture this collaborative, empowerment-focused approach.