Coaching for better work performance

Oops …… the “aliens have landed” or is it just about the small matter of understanding the concept. With the current merry-go-round of economic, corporate and global demands we are inadvertently faced with the pressures of skills retention in South Africa.

Disciplinary procedures can be seen as the simplistic process of a disciplinary hearing to deal with performance issues, and why not, for many decades this is how it was dealt with. But is it this simple?

The general consensus in some cases is that the Employee knows what is expected of them. The fantastic concept of accelerated programmes for advancement through the ranks to meet the set targets has proven in some instances to be a roller coaster ride to performance inconsistencies.

The long road on the South African employment market toward equal opportunities and skills development has left some industries lacking and others flooded.

Getting back to the Coaching and Mentoring concept. Coaching is a process of support, encouragement and goal setting to reach goals. Skills and competence transfer take place in a constructive and confidential relationship. Mentoring on the other hand is a trusted friend, counsellor or teacher with more experience to teach and guide or even be part of a “buddy” system to enhance workplace skills.

Fundamentally coaching more than any other skills development process has the capacity to support business improvement as it supports skills enhancement in a positive manner.

During the process of coaching for better work performance the focus is ultimately:
- An understanding of why people do what they do
- Highlights the downside of using punishment or punitive language
- Applying behaviour management techniques
- Creates a mindset of believing the right things to success
- Allows for constant coaching analysis and planning to change behaviour
- The process is completed on-the-job which enhances the learning process and relevance of application

In summary, the coaching process creates the opportunity for a fair and substantive grounding that supersedes the normal disciplinary code. A process aimed at a higher skills retention environment in an already challenged skills shortage market. Transformation it it’s full and glorious colours in the Corporate arena !!