From Policing to Coaching: Unleashing the Power of Performance Excellence
Updated: Jul 18
In today's dynamic business environment, effective leadership goes beyond mere rule enforcement. A forward-thinking organization understands the value of coaching and nurturing discretionary performance in its supervisors. In this article, we will explore the limitations of a policing mentality, the importance of adopting a coaching approach, and the transformative effects it can have on performance excellence and organizational culture.
The Evolution of Leadership
Gone are the days of the 19th-century leadership style, which confined supervisors to a role solely focused on behavior policing. Organizations have progressed significantly since then, recognizing that front-line supervision encompasses much more than just enforcing rules. Modern leadership demands versatility, where different styles are employed depending on the situation at hand.
The Role of Command-and-Control
While there are instances where a command-and-control approach is necessary, such as addressing intentional and widespread policy deviations, this leadership style should be the exception rather than the norm. Discipline, too, should be a last resort, reserved for those who blatantly disregard established rules.
Sustainable performance and cultural excellence require a shift toward inspiration, delegation, and coaching, particularly when there is room for employees to exceed expectations and strive for personal growth.
Beyond External Motivation
True performance excellence lies in fostering behaviors that occur organically, without constant external prompting. However, even with an inspired workforce, rules and procedures may not always be followed. Leaders who understand the intricacies of motivation and performance coaching recognize that people behave for a reason. They set themselves apart from mere enforcers by seeking to understand the rationale behind deviations rather than resorting to negative consequences. This approach allows them to address the cause rather than just the symptoms.
Exploring the Reasons
When faced with a deviation, enlightened leaders respond with curiosity and empathy. They initiate a dialogue to uncover the influences behind the action. This process involves asking key questions:
Are perceptions inaccurate? New information or experiences might be needed to adjust beliefs.
Have desired behaviors not yet become habitual? Additional support and reinforcement may be necessary.
Are there obstacles hindering desirable performance? Performance coaches strive to minimize difficulties encountered by employees, facilitating their ability to perform tasks in a desirable manner.
The Power of Coaching
Shifting supervisors from a policing mindset to a coaching mindset brings about a crucial realization: focusing solely on results leads to superficial management. Merely measuring outcomes does not guarantee that the performance leading to those outcomes is sustainable or desirable. Moreover, an overemphasis on results can inadvertently foster manipulation and malicious compliance. Instead, organizations should aspire to inspire performance, foster alignment, and cultivate a culture hungry for success. Coaching is the key to achieving these goals efficiently and effectively.
The Quest for Inspired Performance
Do we want individuals to strive for performance excellence out of fear of penalty? Or do we aspire to create a work environment where employees are inspired, aligned with organizational goals, and driven to succeed?
Coaching has consistently proven to be a catalyst for achieving the latter. By nurturing and guiding individuals, supervisors can unleash their potential, creating a culture where new social expectations are organically established and reinforced from within.
Embracing a coaching approach to leadership is the key to unlocking performance excellence and fostering a thriving organizational culture. It requires supervisors to transcend their traditional role as rule enforcers and embrace the nuances of motivation, performance coaching, and empathy. By doing so, organizations can inspire their workforce to reach new heights, resulting in sustainable performance and a culture of achievement.