I know this is probably going to give you a heart attack, but sometimes? You need to break the rules and you need to push people. Babying them? Patting their head and telling them that everything is going to be okay isn't going to do anything and I'd bet my ship that's how you define this job. Great work with that by the way, he seems so inclined to change.
I don't understand this reference but I support it 100%