The Steps to Improving Your Team ’ s Performance
Performance management is the process of continuous communication and feedback between a manager and a team member toward the attainment of company goals . Conventionally , performance management has been a forwardthinking activity based entirely on reflection and perception after the fact . However , organizational culture is progressing to ongoing feedback driven by technology , where managers can foresee challenges based on current performance and begin to course correct the behavior with the intent of getting the team member back on track to improve performance .
Providing team members with feedback about performance is a critical skill for any leader . Leaders use feedback to effectively coach , train and develop team members . Whether a simple coaching or a more formal performance review , it is important to have processes in place that help facilitate and document performance-related conversations .
Performance management is the pathway to steer team members toward determining and accomplishing their goals in alignment with the company ’ s primary objectives . According to Harvard Business Review , “ Once-a-year goals are too ‘ batched ’ for a real-time world , and conversations about year-end ratings are generally less valuable than conversations conducted in the moment about actual performance .”
The Performance Management Cycle
The performance management process , or cycle , includes five key steps .
1 . Planning . This stage involves setting team members ’ goals . Planned goals provide a framework to help focus company efforts . Goals can facilitate planning , motivate and inspire team members , by Desiree B . Littles as well as help leaders evaluate , elevate and control performance . Setting SMART goals ( Specific , Measurable , Attainable , Realistic , Time-bound ) will be valuable to the process . Goals tell team members where the organization is going and how it plans to get there .
2 . Monitoring . In this phase , managers observe the team member ’ s achievement toward the goal . This is where continuous performance management with frequent , informal conversations is valuable . Using the performance management software can track the performance of the team in real-time and allows the team member to course correct along the way .
3 . Developing . This step entails applying learnings gained during the monitoring phase to enhance the performance of team members . This phase may warrant recommendations , like providing an assignment that helps the team member increase their knowledge and capabilities on the job or shifting team member development to boost performance .
4 . Rating . To develop the foundation and create a culture of performance management , team member performance must be rated continually with a performance appraisal . In this instance , ratings may be critical to help identify the successes and opportunities with team member performance , which leads to introducing changes according to areas of development .
5 . Rewards . This stage is key to the performance management process . It can be done through recognition , appreciation , monetary increases or a company-wide rewards program , which motivates team members and heightens engagement .
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So , why is performance management important ?
1 . Performance management enhances the annual review cycle by keeping the manager and the team member apprised of changes to the performance management process and how it can be improved or streamlined .
2 . Continuous performance management signifies team member value . Team members believe their managers care about their goals . Through this process , team members become more open to receiving productive feedback .
Ways to Improve the Performance Management Process Questions to ask to enhance the performance management process : 1 . What does your workforce want to achieve with performance management ?
Obtaining feedback from your team through pulse surveys or focus groups will help identify what team members desire in a performance management program . Your team may be passionate and have strong opinions ; therefore , it is important to understand