Get More from Less: Performance Management Series (Part 1 of 4)
We all know how easy it is to have protocols—each aquatics office is full of books, binders, and filing cabinets full of policies, best practices, rules, and guidelines. The hard part is translating those policies and procedures into practices—getting the safety out of the books and on the pool deck. When the safety stays in the books—when there is a gap between our policies and our practices, between what we saying we are doing and what we are actually doing—accidents happen. Performance management closes the gap.
Performance management means getting everything out of the limited staff resources you have. It makes sure you are getting everything that you are paying for. But getting the most out of your lifeguards isn’t easy. The truth is that lifeguards are often young and underpaid workers. They are usually teenagers that are driven and distracted by the array of other influences in their lives. Frequent staff turnover leaves you teaching the same policies to new staff over and over again. Getting the most out of your staff is hard work and requires constant attention, but there are a few basic steps that make the job easier: Supervision, Engagement, and Accountability.
Over the next three weeks I will outline how hard work, creativity, attention to detail in these areas can help you get the most from your staff. Of course I can only provide the outline—I’ll be looking to you to add the details about how you keep your pools safe every day. Thanks!