| Using the steps in the performance management | | | | want to know how we are doing and the "no |
| cycle leads to higher levels of performance from | | | | news is good news" approach is not |
| employees. The performance management | | | | motivating.Documentation - It is critical that you |
| process must be followed in order to have | | | | document your discussions with employees about |
| effective management. Are you using these | | | | their performance. You should also document |
| steps in your process? In baseball, "the cycle" | | | | changes that are made to the performance |
| means that a hitter earns a single, double, triple, | | | | expectations along the way. If you don't write it |
| and home run in the same game. In Painless | | | | down, it's hard to remember the details when the |
| Performance Evaluations: A Practical Approach to | | | | performance evaluation is due.Performance |
| Managing Day-to-Day Employee Performance, the | | | | Evaluation Preparation - Like it or not, the day will |
| cycle, as in the "performance management cycle" | | | | come when you will need to complete the |
| is defined as, "the ongoing process of setting clear | | | | performance evaluation based on the feedback |
| expectations, providing ongoing feedback, and | | | | you've received and the documentation you've |
| documenting an employee's performance." Both | | | | collected.Performance Evaluation Discussion - You |
| cycles lead to high levels of performance.When | | | | and the employee will meet to discuss their |
| you are effectively supporting an employee's | | | | performance, to evaluate their progress, and to |
| performance (in baseball terms, "hitting for the | | | | plan for the coming year. The evaluation |
| cycle"), you are carrying out each step of the | | | | discussion should include a short summary of the |
| performance management cycle in the order | | | | employee's performance and then focus on |
| presented. Here are the steps:Individual | | | | planning for the future.The performance |
| Performance Planning - You and the employee | | | | management cycle may vary from organization |
| must agree on performance goals and outcomes | | | | to organization. Your Human Resources |
| that support the organization's goals. This may | | | | department is the best source to help you |
| also include a conversation about non-quantifiable | | | | understand your organization's expectations and |
| performance expectations. If you don't have this | | | | processes. Regardless of the system used by |
| conversation, what will the performance | | | | your organization, the steps in the performance |
| evaluation be based upon?Feedback and | | | | management process must be followed for |
| Adjustment - You must meet with the employee | | | | employees to have a sense of their |
| frequently, formally and informally, to provide | | | | accomplishments.Are you hitting for the cycle as |
| feedback on the employee's progress. We all | | | | a manager? |