PART TWO: Half yearly reviews for those managers who HAVEN'T as yet set goals with their team for 2016
Thu July 21st 2016
It's not too late.
By the way, goal setting and reviews have other knock-on benefits ….
For example, quite often when representing employers in an employment dispute, we are dealing with a situation where the manager has not been clear in their expectations and has not managed the situation correctly, or at all. This can be for a myriad of reasons but I believe it is the manager’s responsibility to be clear as to their expectations, agree and set goals and KPIs (the measures of progress) and give timely feedback as to how the employee is progressing against expectations.
Having regular reviews is one of the tools to help you be a great manager, ensuring your team assist you achieving your goals. It also reduces your risk of a personal grievance.
Regular reviews do not have to be difficult or unduly time consuming. There are so many different ways they can be done depending on your specific circumstances. One size does not fit all, but generally more frequent, shorter reviews are better than just one big annual meeting when it is often too late to reverse an adverse trend or recognise and lock in good progress.
Some very simple questions to help with preparation:
- What do you want to achieve in the next six months?
- What do you need your direct reports to be doing individually and collectively to help you be successful in the next six months?
- What are they doing well?
- What can be improved?
- Are there areas for professional and personal development that can be addressed over the next six months?
If you haven’t made time to do this previously your direct reports could be apprehensive, but assure them you want to improve communications.
Mahatma Gandhi is a favourite of mine and one of his sayings is very appropriate in this context.
This quote also applies to your business and team.
If you have set your 2016 goals for your team and you feel like the year is slipping away, read PART ONE you may feel encouraged.