Performance management is a critical process for any business aiming to develop and grow. However, the road to effective performance management is often tricky. Whether it’s appraisals, reviews, one-on-ones, or check-ins, businesses can struggle to implement these processes well. Too often, they become tick-box exercises with little or no real value. This is unfortunate because, when done correctly, performance management can ignite both individual and business performance and drive significant growth.
The Common Pitfalls
One of the main issues with performance management is the presence of irrelevant or vague objectives. This leaves employees guessing what is expected of them and managers struggling to provide adequate feedback. Without clear expectations and constructive feedback, the entire process can feel aimless. For performance management to be effective, it must add value to both the individuals and the business, ensuring they move in the same direction. This requires capable managers who can motivate others and are prepared to have difficult conversations when needed.
The Benefits of Effective Performance Management
When performance management is executed well, it can have numerous benefits:
- Improved Communication: Regular and honest conversations between employees and managers strengthen working relationships.
- Enhanced Value Perception: Employees feel more valued when they receive constructive feedback and recognition.
- Performance Improvement: Continuous development and growth lead to improved performance.
- Issue Resolution: Problems can be addressed promptly before they escalate.
- Recognition and Reward: High performers can be acknowledged and rewarded appropriately.
- Investment in Growth: Demonstrating a commitment to employee development increases engagement and loyalty.
Key Principles of Performance Management
Aligning Business with Individual Performance
Performance management should align with broader business goals and culture. If it doesn’t help the “ship to go faster,” it serves little purpose. It must integrate seamlessly with the company’s strategic objectives.
Looking Back, Looking Forward
Effective performance management involves both reflecting on past performance and planning for future goals. This means reviewing an employee’s performance to provide feedback and clarity on future focus areas.
A Two-Way Process
Performance management should be a two-way street, offering line managers the chance to give feedback and set expectations while allowing employees to assess their own performance and understand their goals. This fosters open and honest discussions.
Informal and Formal Approaches
A combination of formal and informal approaches works best. Regular informal feedback ensures that formal performance reviews come with no surprises, making the process smoother and more productive.
The Starting Point: OKRs
To steer performance management effectively, it’s crucial to set clear goals through OKRs (Objectives and Key Results).
- Objectives are the goals you aim to achieve.
- Key Results measure whether those goals have been met.
OKRs help focus efforts on activities that drive the most business value by aligning individual objectives with the business’s goals. They are formulated as a sentence outlining the objective and the metrics attached to it: “We want to achieve (objective) by reaching (key result/s).”
For example:
- We want to drive revenue growth and profitability (objective) by achieving a 15% increase in quarterly revenue compared to the same quarter last year (key result) and decreasing operational costs by 10% through process optimization and efficiency improvements (key result).
- We want to build a high-performing and happy team (objective) by achieving a 10% increase in staff productivity (key result) and achieving a staff engagement rate of 80% (key result).
Culture: The How in Performance Management
Culture defines how your business operates and shapes your values, standards, and behaviours. It’s essential to define your culture formally, setting the standards for behaviour and ensuring everyone aligns with company values. This combination of personal objectives (aligned to OKRs) and behaviours (aligned to values) establishes a robust performance management framework. They provide vital elements of any performance management framework in setting out expectations to measure people’s performance against in terms “what” we want you to achieve and “how” we want you to achieve it.
Personal Development Plans (PDPs)
PDPs guide employees towards their development and growth, aligning personal aspirations with company objectives. They help define professional development goals, providing the information needed to make this alignment. If team members aren’t growing, they’re likely leaving, making PDPs crucial for retention. PDPs assess an employee’s commitment to their ambition and outline the changes needed to achieve both personal and company objectives.
Implementing a Performance Management Framework
Implementing effective performance management is an intentional, iterative, and continuous process. It aligns employees’ career ambitions with the company’s broader goals and core values, benefiting the entire team.
Steps in the Process
- Setting Objectives: Establish individual objectives that align with company goals and plans for achieving them.
- Ongoing Feedback and Monitoring: Regular check-ins ensure progress and provide support.
- Performance Review: Measure performance against objectives and behaviors.
- Recognition and Development Planning: Discuss career aspirations and growth opportunities.
- Revisiting Objectives: Realign objectives for the next performance review cycle.
Key Elements
- Always-On Feedback: Regular, informal feedback motivates employees and ensures continuous improvement.
- Performance Reviews: Formal reviews provide a structured assessment of performance and behaviours.
- One-on-Ones: Regular meetings bridge the gap between informal feedback and formal reviews.
Where to Start
Implementing a full performance management system is not an overnight task. Start with regular one-on-ones and training managers to deliver them effectively. Gradually introduce regular feedback, establish and communicate OKRs, and align them with business values and behaviours. Implement performance reviews and PDPs, and continuously improve the process through regular retrospectives.
At Wright People, we’re here to help you navigate this. Effective performance management can transform your business, driving growth, engagement, and loyalty.
If you need any help, please get in touch.
