Conducting Effective Performance Reviews

Duration: Offered as a 90 minute webinar or 2 days in class

Course Overview

Performance reviews are an essential component of employee development. The performance review meeting is an important aspect of career planning, and the outcomes of the meeting should be known to the employee and supervisor before the meeting actually takes place. Remember what the German philosopher Goethe said: “Treat people as if they were what they ought to be and you help them become what they are capable of being.”

Setting goals and objectives to aim for will give both supervisors and employees a focus, and is one of the key aspects to meeting overall company objectives. Supervisors must also learn how to give feedback, both positive and negative, on a regular and timely basis so that employees can grow and develop. Performance appraisals involve all these activities.

Learning Objectives

  • Recognize the importance of having a performance review process for employees
  • Understand how to work with employees to set performance standards and goals
  • Develop skills in observing, giving feedback, listening, and asking questions
  • Identify an effective interview process and have the opportunity to practice the process in a supportive atmosphere Make the performance review legally defensible

Course Outline

1. Course Overview

2. Performance Appraisals Done Well

  • What are Performance Appraisals?
  • Making Connections
  • Building Trust

3. Errors We Make

  • Three Slippery Areas
  • Making Connections

4. Types of Performance Reviews

  • Choosing What Works
  • Winning Performance Appraisals

5. The Performance Management Process

  • The Four Steps
  • Sample Performance Appraisal Forms

6. Goals with SPIRIT

  • Identifying Dreams and Setting Goals
  • My Dreams and Goals
  • Putting it All Together

7. The Performance Management Cycle

  • The Four Phases
  • The Basis for Review

8. Setting Standards

9. Creating a Performance Development Plan

10. Feedback and Communication

11. Listening Skills

  • Active Listening
  • The Mission: To Listen

12. Communication Strategies

  • Basic Skills
  • Probing
  • Non-Verbal Messages
  • Interpretation Exercise

13. Giving Feedback

  • The Importance of Feedback
  • Six Characteristics
  • Case Studies

14. Accepting Criticism

15. Planning the Interview

16. The Interview

  • A Basic Format
  • Preparation

17. Goal Setting Role Play

18. Providing Feedback

19. Coaching

  • The Importance of Coaching
  • Task Preparation

20. Appraisal Preparation

21. The Interview

22. Maintaining Performance

23. Handling Performance Problems

  • Make the Commitment
  • Behavior Contracts
  • Recognizing Mrs. Stanford

24. The Part Where Someone Gets Fired

  • If You Have To Let Them Go…
  • Role Play

25. Pre-Assignment Review

26. Performance Management Checklists

27. Personal Action Plan