HR expert: Change from ‘Boss Culture’ to ‘Coach Culture’

Amid the wrestle institutions face with rapid change in the Jamaican and wider Caribbean educational sector, a local transformational leadership and human resources expert is urging leaders to consider transitioning their style of management from the traditional boss approach to one that involves collaboration and coaching.

Speaking to school bursars attending the JN Bank-sponsored 24th annual Caribbean Bursars’ Conference in Hanover recently, Jermaine Nairne, senior manager for talent, performance and culture at the JN Group, said that as schools navigate different challenges, and adapt to digital transformation, cultivating a culture of mentorship, empathy, and team wellness is critical for sustained growth and success in the sector.

“Leadership requires a different kind of thinking and research tells us that we have to move from a boss culture to a coach culture. It is not just about having the technical expertise to be a bursar; you must have the sensibility to also analyse and pick up certain nuances among the team members,” he said.

“The landscape will continue to change, and if you don’t change, you will be left behind. It is important that you understand the people you work with and particularly the people who you lead,” he added.

Nairne emphasised the importance of leveraging the strengths of a multigenerational workforce, encouraging the professionals to create inclusive environments where seasoned professionals and younger staff members can collaborate and learn from each other.

Highlighting that every generation “brings something special to the table”, he noted that there are potential benefits schools can derive from blending the organisational experience and industry expertise of veterans with the technological adaptability and innovation of younger team members.

“You see that move from boss culture to coach culture, it requires that we understand that we have to build the people who are on our team to replace us. We have to learn how to evolve and empower people as we go along. We can’t ‘hog’ the show,” he said.

Guard against workplace trauma

He also encouraged bursars to take active steps to prevent the perpetuation of workplace trauma, pointing out that such experiences can significantly impact team members’ performance and their capacity to make sound decisions.

“When some teams are observed closely, it’s clear that the tone of the culture is set at the top, and you can tell how the leader operates based on how key members operate,” he said, while drawing on research from Harvard Business School, to highlight how workplace trauma can also create patterns that ripple across generations.

“If my boss is saying some things to me at work that I don’t like, because of the power dynamics I can’t tell that boss what I want to, but when I go home and that power, dynamic shifts, and I am in charge, who do you think I will take it out on? The children and spouse. So we [create] an ecosystem of abuse without realising it,” he explained.

The human resource expert further encouraged the professionals to prioritise their wellbeing, and that of their team members, emphasising that a healthy leader is also better equipped to foster a supportive and productive environment.

“The only thing that is constant is change and so your wellbeing is important. As we evolve, let us think about our physical and mental wellbeing,” he said.

Acknowledging that while not everyone will share a similar perspective or think alike, Mr Nairne stressed that in the end, there should be a common goal: advancing education and building a stronger future for the sector.

The 24th annual Caribbean Bursars’ Conference was held from November 20-23 at the Princess Hotels and Resorts in Green Island, Hanover. The conference was staged under the theme: ‘The Future of Work. Adapting to a Changing Landscape’.