There are lots of reasons why many people avoid, fear, delay and worry about appraisals but one of the main reasons is that it is the one and only time of the year that the boss and their team member meet for a frank and open discussion about performance, career aims, progress, development and lots more!
Remove the fear and worry about appraisals by making them much easier and more relaxed, which they will be if the boss meets their team members individually on a regular basis throughout the year for one-to-one discussions. By meeting regularly and addressing performance, career aspirations, development and training needs etc. regularly you can take the stress out of appraisals. Appraisals are more likely to be completed on time and bosses are less likely to procrastinate, or regard appraisals as a chore, or just another job, if they have regular and meaningful discussions with their team members. In this way trust is built between people, they get to know each other and the uncertainty is removed from appraisals so there is nothing to fear.
Don’t:
- Put off discussions or they loom very large.
- Wait for the annual appraisal to sit down and talk.
- Wait for the other person to instigate a meeting, make it a regular occurrence. If your boss is quiet or allusive, then take the lead.
If you are a boss but:
- You don’t find it easy, and rarely find the time to talk with people
- Your team members think they are in trouble if the boss wants to talk to them!
- Your team members are not used to talking with their boss and so avoid doing so at all costs!
Then set about creating a relaxing atmosphere and improving your relationship with team members. Appraisals tend to be easier when people communicate well and know each other and working together will be easier too because any problems are addressed as they occur rather than at a ‘Dreaded’ appraisal.
When it comes to the appraisal, be creative and imaginative in discussing, discovering and agreeing ‘whole-person’ development that your team members will value and respond to, beyond the usual job skill-set, and incorporate this sort of development into the appraisal process.
Sit down together and talk as regularly as you can, thus when the actual formal appraisals are due everyone will find the whole process to be far more natural, quick, and easy – but most importantly a lot more productive and satisfying too.
Our Great Performance Appraisals one day In House Course will equip your managers with the Appraisal Skills they need to appraise with ease and get the best from their team.