8 Tips for Facilitating Impactful Performance Appraisals
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- Set the tone. Take the lead in changing the internal mindset about performance appraisals. If you convey that it’s a positive opportunity, your team will likely pick up on that vibe and follow your lead.
- Prepare thoroughly. Make it a priority to prepare for meetings with each member of your team, with thorough notes and reflections. They will appreciate your investment of time and energy into planning for a meaningful conversation.
- Determine a purpose and goal. Think proactively about what you, as the manager, would like the outcome of each performance appraisal meeting to be. Then build key discussion points around that purpose and goal.
- Engage the associate in the process. Make sure your associates know if there is anything they need to do prior to their performance appraisal meeting. Give them an opportunity to prepare, too, by setting clear expectations.
- Position it as part of an ongoing conversation. Performance appraisals are a time to reflect on regroup – not to catch people off guard. These meetings should really be positioned as extended versions of the daily, weekly, and monthly conversations managers are having with each member of their team.
- Strike a balance between praise and potential. Remember, performance appraisals open a door to commend associates for what they are doing well, and to addresses areas that require improvement. They key is keeping the conversation balanced.
- Establish a key outcome or take away. As the performance appraisal meeting comes to a close, be clear about what happens next. What is the continuing or changing, in light of everything that was discussed at the performance appraisal meeting?
- End it on a positive note. Regardless of the nature of the conversation, find a way to end each associate’s performance appraisal on a positive note, and with gratitude for their accomplishments or efforts.
Committed to putting a better structured, more impactful process in place when the time comes to conduct your next round of performance appraisals? Keep these eight tips in mind: