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- Are your performance reviews useful?
What can management do?
Managers should remember to reinforce postive behaviour and this is best acheived by ongoing feedback rather than an annual review. One of the simplest, best-known, and least used principles of psychology is the Skinnerian principle of reinforcement: “Reinforcing positive behaviour will increase the probability of that behaviour.” Consciously work towards recognising and rewarding good behaviour, as it happens, whether it’s a verbal reinforcement, a pat on the back or simple acknowledgement.
Don’t fall into the trap that many organisations find themselves – seperate performance review and salary review. Nothing destroys employee morale more than “your performance is superb but unfortunately the company isn’t in a position to offer you a substantial increase at this time”… employee reviews should take place quarterly or bi-annually at a minimum, whilst salary reviews would be annual.
Make performance standards clear, realistic and achievable
Resarch has shown that the majority of employees are actually unclear, at the end of a performance review, as to what is expected of them. Performance measures should be quantitative (measurable) rather than qualitative so that employees clearly understand what they need to do to achieve success. employees who are uncertain about the expectations of management are more likely to become despondent becasue they feel ‘helpless’. Every employee is uniqu, as are their job functions. Ensure that performance standards are relevant to the job.
Include customer and team feedback in the performance management process
Often criticism or praise received from people other than their direct supervisors is viewed more positively by employees. conduct 360 degrees performance reviews to get the best information.
If you’re going to spend time conducting performance reviews then make sure that they worth something and that you’ve got the cooperation and buy-in from all of yur employees.
Article courtesy of APSO Gram – 1st Quarter 2008
- Tags
- General Management