Greetings!

Happy New Year! The start of New Year is ripe with promise. What better month than January to provide strengthened focus for your team. Virtually every piece of research tells us that people want to know what is expected of them at work. And ironically, many employees don’t know where they stand. Closing that gap will not only improve performance, but, if done correctly, provide as much security as possible in this changing world.

The old chestnut of the performance appraisal can be a good tool to brush off or recalibrate. Done incorrectly – the very term can strike terror in our hearts.

Tips for a Successful Performance Appraisal System

1. Be Proactive. The most important element of this programme is the creation of specific goals and objectives, aligned with organizational and departmental targets. Specific behaviours that determine what needs to be achieved and why it is important.
    

2. Talk about the “how”. How we behave (how we treat people) is key to workplace success.  This aspect is very important and often overlooked. E.g. “I expect you to provide positive feedback to me, as your leader, on what you perceive as working well in our department. I also ask that you offer feedback on what can be improved. Privately, considerately, with a couple of suggestions for alternative strategies.”
    

3. The individual owns it. Let the person collaborate in the process, particularly in relation to “how” work gets done. They keep track, document, and determine the milestones and schedule follow up discussions. Ensure ongoing communication, rather than a once a year conversation. This is a living document.
    

4. No surprises. Performance appraisal discussions are not the time to talk about day to day problems. Confront issues immediately and create an action plan for improvement.
    

5. Celebrate. Ensure the follow up discussions significantly underline progress and success. Carefully choose 1 or 2 areas for further enhancement.

The process doesn’t have to be a bureaucratic nightmare, but rather a collaboration with clear goals, strategies and timelines. The outcome can be creative tension, a sense of pride, ownership and accomplishment. That way we all win.

 Appreciation is a powerful tool to shift perspective. Finding something to appreciate during a difficult situation quickly moves the perspective to the big picture from the little picture.

Doc Childre and Bruce Cryer,
From Chaos to Coherence

\ York Region Character Awards

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