How to Make Performance Reviews More Effective and Enjoyable

Performance reviews don’t have to be something to sweat about.


These conversations offer a valuable feedback loop for people to ask questions, identify needs, and drive professional growth.


Building Conversations that Count


Whether you’re conducting or participating in a review, here are a few strategies to make the most of your next review:


Share Facts and Document Goals


Before a review, make sure you are clear about what is expected.


Review job descriptions and jot down ways success has been achieved or where one person is being overloaded. Include measurable data (i.e., project output, sales goals achieved, etc.) that is understood by all participants. Link any examples (like improvement strategies or success stories) to the facts. Then, conclude by recording time-sensitive, measurable goals that are linked to the objectives discussed in the review.


Questions to Consider:


  • What’s working?

  • What’s not working?

  • What has been your greatest accomplishment or challenge this year?

  • Where do you feel there is room to improve?

  • What's something you don't think I see but should know?

Regularly Document Progress


To avoid the “dread” factor, intentionally calendar regular check-ins that are communicated in person or through e-mail.


While many yearly goals end up at the bottom of the drawer, monthly or quarterly updates make space for effective dialogue and regular course corrections. This relieves pressure from the yearly review while keeping everyone on the same page.


Questions to Consider:


  • In what areas are you delivering the best results?

  • What are the biggest challenges you face in your current position?

  • Where has your team been helping or hindering your work?

Build From Personal Strengths


While everyone has particular tasks to accomplish, each person has gifts that can positively impact the company in unique ways.


During reviews, ask this question: “What 20 percent of my contribution generates 80 percent of my impact at work?” Work together to clarify untapped potential and discuss how this could be optimized for greater results. If needed, seek extra support, resources, or an alteration of current responsibilities.


Questions to Consider:


  • Do you have everything needed to perform your job?

  • What are the main drivers for success in your position?

  • What skills do you have that could be used more effectively?

A Structure That Builds Success


Want to create a positive environment for good communication?


Structure your reviews around facts, goals, and strengths to make your company as productive as possible.

Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

3 Powerful Tricks to Learn New Skills Faster

Image
“Change is the law of life. And those who look only to the past or present are certain to miss the future.” – John F. Kennedy Though few people like it, change never stops. Success in life requires the ability to adapt. As one Chinese proverb quips, “the wise adapt themselves to circumstances, as water molds itself to the pitcher.” Whether you enjoy change or not, the pace of change marches ahead at an ever-increasing pace. Here is a statistical snapshot of what that looks like: 94% of the internet workload will be processed on the cloud by the end of 2021 It is estimated that 70% of all automobiles will be connected to the internet through the Internet of Things by 2023 By 2030, the fully and semi-automatic car market will be worth $26 billion Artificial Intelligence is slated to replace around 85 million US jobs by 2025 The world has produced 90% of its Big Data (or extensive data sets) in the past two years Does that feel overwhelm...
Read more

6 Winning Direct Mail Campaigns

Image
Direct mail offers results that other channels just can't match. According to a recent study, direct mail has a response rate as high as 9% . However, there are always ways to engage your audience better and improve your mailers' effectiveness. These methods below catch your recipents' attention and increase the chances that they'll read and respond to your direct mail piece.  6 Winning Direct Mail Campaigns 1. Instill Curiosity with a Quiz Do you worry your direct mail envelopes are going in the trash unread? Take a page from Harvard Medical School's playbook. In a recent mailing to woo subscribers for their Harvard Heart Letter newsletter, they put a heart health quiz on the front. The answers to the three-question quiz were inside the mailer, giving recipients a reason to open. 2. Benefits, Not Features As marketers, it's so easy to get caught up in promoting all the neat features of your product. Your readers, however, don't care about th...
Read more

The Ideal Length for Tweets, Facebook Posts, and More

Image
You've taken the time to collect your thoughts. You've carefully outlined your ideas, your theme, and the overall tone you'd like to communicate. Wouldn't it be nice if people actually read it? Better make it quick! Generation Z, born after 1996, is already emerging from the shadow of millennials. Making up a quarter of the U.S. population, they will account for 40 percent of all consumers by 2020. Gen Z processes content faster than other generation, especially considering most can sort through piles of information using four screens simultaneously. Although their options seem limitless, their time is finite. Gen Z consumers have an average browsing attention span of eight seconds (as compared to twelve seconds for millennials). Make Every Word Count As lead time decreases, efficiency must increase. How do you evaluate the "right" speed for sharing? Research has answers! Here are some research-based guidelines on the ideal length...
Read more