Categories for Performance Management

How to Give Constructive Criticism with 5 Essential Steps

August 21, 2014 3:36 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Sometimes leaders have to be critical in an attempt to improve a situation created by staff, colleagues, or upper level leaders. How the message is delivered can make the difference between a productive conversation and a damaged relationship. Use this template to guide your thinking as you craft what you want to say when constructive criticism is necessary. 1. Describe…

3 Outmoded Leadership Practices You Should Reconsider Now

July 24, 2014 3:38 am Published by Leave your thoughts

It’s easy to cling to old, comfortable ways of leading that no longer make sense, once you pause to reflect. Ongoing research and current best practices teach us that it is time to discard the old and bring in the new. Consider these out-of-date practices and update your approach. 1. Using Old School Language Leaders give confusing, inconsistent messages when…

5 Things Guaranteed to Destroy Teamwork

May 8, 2014 2:17 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Every organization emphasizes the need for teamwork. But few really achieve a high performing team environment. Setting the stage for collaboration requires that leaders play close attention to several common traps that, when present in the work environment, make true teamwork nearly impossible to achieve. Team Members Who Don’t Pull Their Weight When studies are done regarding what employees like…

Motivating Staff to Top Performance: What They Really Want from Their Work

April 24, 2014 2:18 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Much has been written about rewarding and recognizing staff members for a job well done. While money, trinkets, and prizes – extrinsic motivators – have temporary “feel good” effects, real motivation occurs in a much different way. More powerful is the satisfaction inherent in doing the work itself ¬¬ – intrinsic motivation. Here is how this translates into leadership strategies…

3 Things Sure to Derail 360-degree Feedback

March 27, 2014 2:20 am Published by Leave your thoughts

Research and experience has shown that leaders can benefit from receiving feedback from their staff, other leaders, and their own manager, i.e. 360-degree feedback. However, if the process is not appropriately employed, the results can be unreliable, making the feedback inaccurate and even damaging. Avoid undesirable outcomes by becoming alert for these significant trouble spots. A biased sample Be careful…

How to Mediate Conflict Between Staff Members

March 6, 2014 2:21 am Published by Leave your thoughts

In a perfect work world, employees would manage their own conflict, maturely talking through issues in a professional, respectful manner. In reality, however, they often lack the necessary communication skills as well as the initiative to discuss their differences. Managers need to intervene, helping them clear the air so they can work together more effectively. Here’s a model you can…

Development Planning: 3 Big Mistakes to Avoid and What to Do Instead

February 20, 2014 2:23 am Published by Leave your thoughts

One main reason top talent leaves an organization is lack of training, coaching, or mentoring, all critical components of development planning. Ambitious employees want to work in an organization that invests in them, paving the way for advancement in both skills and position. A development plan should provide a road map to strengthen an employee’s ability to perform the current…

What to Do When a Top Performer Slips Up

February 6, 2014 6:17 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Top performers, by definition, tend to consistently do work that exceeds established standards. Holding themselves to high standards, they are driven to get outstanding results in all dimensions of the work they do. When top performers face the rare misstep, they typically self-regulate by moving quickly to own and repair the problem. Common wisdom about performance problems dictates that giving…

How to Engage Employees in Performance Discussions

November 14, 2013 6:24 pm Published by Leave your thoughts

Have you ever been disappointed by the lack of employee participation in performance discussions? More often than you’d like, have you received minimal input and dialogue, even when asking probing questions? Studies tell us employees are quiet, in part, because they don’t really believe performance discussions are valuable. They describe them as unrelated to their job duties, condescending, meaningless, and…