Improve Your Performance Review Process

By: Multi-Unit Franchisee | 6,925 Reads | 20 Shares

%3Cp%3EPerformance+reviews+are+critical+tools+in+evaluating+your+employees%2C+determining+raises%2C+and+vetting+internal+candidates+for+promotion.+When+done+well%2C+a+review+is+an+invaluable+conversation+between+management+and+employees+about+expectations+and+job+performance%3B+however%2C+too+many+managers+and+companies+regard+the+review+process+as+more+of+a+burden+than+a+resource.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EAs+a+business+leader%2C+you+can+improve+your+performance+review+process+by+creating+a+process+that+has+clear+value.+In+writing+your+review+forms%2C+there+are+three+archetypes+you+can+follow.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Ch2%3ENarrative+form%3C%2Fh2%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EIn+a+narrative+form+evaluation%2C+you+and+other+managers+write+complete+thoughts+or+sentences+about+the+employee%27s+performance.+You+take+note+of+both+the+positive+contributions+of+the+employee%2C+and+areas+where+he+or+she+can+improve+moving+forward.+The+best+narrative+forms+also+include+development+plans+that+set+goals+for+the+employee+to+meet+in+the+next+review+cycle.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESample+employee+review+question%3A%3C%2Fem%3E+Discuss+ways+in+which+the+employee+exhibited+performance+that+exceeded+expectations.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Ch2%3ENumerical+evaluation%3C%2Fh2%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EA+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fwww.aia.org%2Faiaucmp%2Fgroups%2Fsecure%2Fdocuments%2Fpdf%2Faiap017591.pdf%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Enumerical+evaluation%3C%2Fa%3E+assigns+a+number%2C+usually+on+a+1-5+scale%2C+across+several+categories+of+employee+performance.+This+approach+provides+managers+with+a+more+comprehensive+guide+to+the+review+process+than+a+narrative+form%2C+leaving+few+elements+of+the+employee%27s+job+description+uncovered.+The+form+also+includes+areas+for+comment+to+supplement+the+numerical+grade.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESample+employee+review+question%3A%3C%2Fem%3E+The+employee+communicates+well+with+management+and+co-workers+%281-5%29%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Ch2%3EDescriptive+reviews%3C%2Fh2%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EA+combination+of+the+other+two+review+types%2C+a+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fhrweb.mit.edu%2Fsystem%2Ffiles%2Fdescriptive_review_sample_rev_3-12.pdf%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Edescriptive+review%3C%2Fa%3E+asks+managers+to+use+a+predetermined+set+of+descriptors+to+evaluate+an+employee%27s+performance.+After+selecting+from+the+descriptors%2C+the+manager+completes+the+section+by+adding+justification+for+his+or+her+choices.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3E%3Cem%3ESample+employee+review+question%3A%3C%2Fem%3E+The+employee+is+ready+for+additional+responsibilities+%28Strongly+disagree-Strongly+agree%29%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EOnce+you+have+chosen+the+right+archetype+for+your+sample+employee+performance+reviews%2C+you+need+to+tailor+the+questions+to+your+specific+needs.+As+you+do+so%2C+avoid+common+pitfalls%2C+like%3A%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Ch3%3E%3Cem%3EThe+%22halo+effect%22%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fh3%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EThe+halo+effect+occurs+when+managers+overemphasize+good+or+bad+employee+performance+in+the+period+immediately+before+the+review.+Falling+prey+to+the+halo+effect+means+managers+overlook+the+employee%27s+performance+early+in+the+year.+To+avoid+the+halo+effect+in+your+employee+review+samples%2C+ask+managers+to+evaluate+performance+from+each+month+or+quarter.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Ch3%3E%3Cem%3EPreparation%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fh3%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EWhen+you+look+through+sample+employee+performance+reviews%2C+you+will+notice+that+each+example+takes+time+to+complete.+Reviews+are+not+something+you+can+rush%2C+and+you+need+to+allow+yourself+and+your+team+enough+time+to+give+a+full+evaluation.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Ch3%3E%3Cem%3EToo+much+objectivity%2Fsubjectivity%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fh3%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EReviews+are+a+balancing+act+between+objective+measurements+of+performance+and+subjective+impressions+of+an+employee%27s+value.+Too+much+%3Ca+href%3D%22http%3A%2F%2Fsloanreview.mit.edu%2Farticle%2Ffor-better-decision-making-look-at-facts-not-data%2F%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3Eobjectivity%3C%2Fa%3E+ignores+intangible+contributions+and+extenuating+circumstances+that+impact+performance.+On+the+other+hand%2C+too+much+subjectivity+leads+to+claims+of+%22playing+favorites%22+and+rewarding+low-performing+employees+who+are+well+liked.+During+the+review+process%2C+use+measurable+benchmarks+as+the+starting+place+for+the+evaluation%2C+but+include+elements+of+character+and+potential+in+your+decisions+as+well.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Ch3%3E%3Cem%3EGoal+setting%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fh3%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EThe+best+sample+employee+reviews+include+sections+for+goal+setting.+This+is+the+chance+for+both+parties+to+discuss+where+the+employee+should+be+at+the+time+of+the+next+evaluation.+Benchmarks+need+to+be+clear+and+attainable+to+be+effective.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp%3EYou+may+need+to+look+through+dozens+of+employee+review+samples+before+you+find+the+best+fit+for+your+company%2C+but+the+time+it+takes+to+settle+on+the+correct+form+is+a+valuable+investment+in+the+future.+Snagajob+has+integrated+%3Ca+href%3D%22https%3A%2F%2Fwww.snagajob.com%2Femployers%2Fproduct%2Fperformance-review-forms%2F%22+target%3D%22_blank%22+rel%3D%22noopener%22%3EPerformance+Review+Forms%3C%2Fa%3E+into+our+Employee+Reporting+features+to+help+you+better+prepare+for%2C+and+track%2C+the+review+process.%3C%2Fp%3E%0D%0A%3Cp+style%3D%22border-top%3A+3px+solid+%23DDDDDD%3B%22%3E%26nbsp%3B%3Cem%3E%3Cstrong%3ESnag%3C%2Fstrong%3E+is+the+largest+and+fastest-growing+platform+for+hourly+work%2C+connecting+more+than+60+million+active+job+seekers+with+employment+opportunities+at+300%2C000+employer+locations+in+the+US+and+Canada.%3C%2Fem%3E%3C%2Fp%3E

Published: October 23rd, 2018