The end of the year is almost here. And for many employees and employers across the country – and right here in South Florida – it means one thing they both dread: performance reviews.
But these reviews don’t have to be approached with a mix of fear and trepidation. Instead, think of them as tools that can help you and your staff members hit the ‘pause’ button, so to speak, and take stock of the past year. They can also ensure you’re both on the same page in terms of goals and expectations for the coming year.
To help you get more from your performance reviews, here are a few tips to consider:
#1: Remember, you set the tone.
As a leading South Florida staffing agency, Future Force knows if you don’t take performance reviews seriously, then neither will your employees. Instead, set a positive tone with your employees about the importance of these reviews. Approach them with an attitude of genuine interest and concern for each employee.
#2: Take the time to prepare.
Besides setting the tone, make sure you invest the time to prepare for each of your reviews. When you have a number of employees to see, it can take considerable time and effort. However, these reviews won’t be effective if you don’t take the time to prepare and think ahead about what specific input and feedback you want to give to employees.
#3: Keep it casual.
Employees can sometimes feel like a performance review is more of an interrogation than a conversation. So try to keep it casual. Go out for lunch or a cup of coffee. Don’t do all the talking. Ask lots of questions and listen carefully. Keep in mind, you’re both on the same team. So your employee shouldn’t feel like they’re in the principal’s office. Otherwise, they might not be comfortable enough to voice any challenges or concerns they’re facing.
#4: Set clear goals.
One of the biggest causes of underperformance throughout the year is a lack of clear goals and expectations. So make sure each and every employee understands what they need to be doing and when.
#5: Commit to more feedback.
It’s easy to push formal feedback until the end of the year. But really, you should be giving your employees input and feedback regularly throughout the entire year. And it doesn’t have to be anything formal. It could be as simple as dropping by their desk for five minutes for a quick progress report.
Need more help hiring employees who deliver great performance? Call the experts at Future Force. As a leading South Florida staffing agency, we have a broad network of skilled and reliable people, ready to go to work – where and when you need them. Contact Future Force today to learn more.