9 ways in which you can create a high-performance environment
Riaan Steenberg of Regenesys Business School speaks about how to go about creating a high-performance environment.
1. Broadly define what you expect your employees to achieve
High-performing companies usually do not feature formal grading systems or narrowly-defined job descriptions. Top-performing organisations are more likely to define jobs broadly, especially in terms of financial outcomes the person in that role must achieve.
2. Get your employees’ input about the goals they must achieve
The extent to which employees are involved in goal-setting is directly related to how likely they are to ‘buy’ into the goals you set for them: The more they buy into the goals you set for him, the more likely he is to achieve these.
3. Constantly monitor how your employees achieve the goals you have set for them
If you do not check up on if, and how, your employees have achieved the goals you have set for them, they will not perform as they know that you will not check up on them. Regular performance reviews are critical to make goals work.
4. Develop a central corporate culture for your organisation
Research on high performance suggests that employees increase their performance levels when they feel part of a central culture. According to organisational strategy authors, Robert Kaplan and David Norton, stakeholders feel that increases in turnover and profitability are required to increase the performance of the organisation.
5. Develop a strong sense of trust in the leadership in your organisation
High performance teams are more likely to trust that their leader will act in their interest. Managers must act with authenticity, speak openly and publicly about performance. Their emotional and spiritual intelligence will motivate their teams and make them more likely to support their leaders’ goals.
6. Ensure your managers are highly adaptable
Research suggests that high performance is highly dependent on the approach and level of skill a manager has. Managers in high-performance environments engender high levels of trust, are flexible and accommodating.
According to organisational performance author, Nancy Lockwood, a manager in a high-performance environment is expected to:
- Show strong commitment to diversity;
- Take responsibility for successes and failures;
- Demonstrate honesty and integrity;
- Help find solutions to problems;
- Respect and care for employees as individuals;
- Set realistic performance expectations;
- Demonstrate a passion for success; and
- Defend direct reports.
7. Ensure that your work environment fosters high performance
Managers need the right environment for their teams to thrive. These environments will:
- Have a balance between compensation, workload and task allocation;
- Allow employees to feel that they are contributing meaningfully to the company; and
- have people that are trained regularly.
Amazingly, employees have been surveyed and showed that high-performance team environments are perceived as less stressful and more productive.
8. Promote job security in your organisation
High performance organisations promote job security. Using part-time workers is discouraged, except for short periods.
9. Foster a culture of learning in your organisation
High-performance firms set goals for the long term. Performance management practice is not based on a disciplinary view of performance, as every individual must understand that they are part of the growth of the organisation.
Riaan Steenberg is the Chief Operating Officer and a Director of Regenesys Business School in which capacity he takes responsibility for strategy, operations and growth, together with the rest of the executive team.
A certified PMP with a MBA with specialisation in change, investment and portfolio management. Riaan has completed management consulting and project management assignments for hundreds of projects ranging from major infrastructure implementations to complex research and process re-engineering assignments.
