Employee evaluations (or staff appraisals) should be an enlightening experience for both parties involved. These reviews should be in no way intimidating for either you or your employee. However, for a lot of people the process has become exactly that. The reasons for these discouraging occurrences can range from when the evaluation takes place to how the reviewer handles the evaluation process. Here’s a guide to help you create a positive employee evaluation procedure in your workplace.

Deciding When to Conduct Employee Reviews

The first thing required for a successful employee evaluation program is a solid review schedule. You need to know when the evaluations will take place and how you plan on notifying your employees of their upcoming performance reviews. It is important to decide how many times per year you want to do employee reviews. While some companies only hold one single evaluation per year, other companies will conduct more informal (or “mini”) reviews once or twice before that yearly review is conducted. This practice can be beneficial to all involved — it cuts down on the time that the formal review takes. Periodic “mini-reviews” also allow the employees time to improve on weaker areas of work before the dreaded formal evaluation takes place.

Employee “mini-reviews” can also give managers an opportunity to get to know their employees better. This is a way in which to show employees that they are valued and taken seriously. As such, you shouldn’t think of these reviews as simply a place in which to negotiate salaries.

Are You Getting Paid Enough? Do a Salary Comparison

Things like working conditions, future opportunities and any problems that either party has should also be discussed at this time.

Setting Aside Time for Employee Evaluations

You should set aside a specific time when the review will be held in order to get the most out of the evaluation. This practice gives your employee adequate time to prepare themselves; the evaluation is not sprung on them suddenly and it allows them the time required to adequately prepare for it. You will find that proper preparation cannot happen if you send your employee an email on Monday informing him that this is the week of his or her performance evaluation. Instead, make sure that you have a quiet private place and at least an hour’s worth of time set aside to perform the evaluation.

Performing an Effective Employee Evaluation

The list of questions that are involved in an employee evaluation do not need to be so involved that the review seems impersonal and institutional. Also, you do not need to ask the employee ‘everything under sun.” You cannot expect to be able to cover everything in one hour.

In addition, keep in mind that if you spend too much time on one thing you could easily lead the evaluation in the wrong direction, spending more time to accomplish the entire process than you originally intended and planned for.

Some of the other things that you may want to keep in mind during the evaluation include:

• Your employee needs to have been given a job description beforehand. That way they know what the evaluation is based on.
• Your employee should have a blank copy of the evaluation prior to the review as well. Then they can fill in how they would rate themselves. (You may actually find that they will be harder on themselves than you.)
• There should be certain goals outlined for this evaluation. Things such as improving performance, rewarding good performance and establishing new expectations are common — and important — areas to cover.
• Make sure that you don’t do all of the talking. You’ll want to ask questions and give your employee time to share their feelings and tell you what their needs are.
• Employees should be permitted to write an alternate point of view in their file if there is something that you disagree about. While it may not be binding, it is an important step in moving forward in your relationship.
• Try to put your employee at ease. If they are overly anxious, they will be unable to hear what you are trying to tell them.
• Have any metrics or performance data on hand to back up what your evaluation states. This adds hard evidence to the evaluation process.
• Don’t just focus on those areas that need improvement. Your employee also needs to hear praise, so make sure to spend just as much time telling them what they have done well over the time period.

How to Write the Employee Evaluation

As a manager, you should be taking notes on all of the employees that you are responsible for evaluating on an ongoing basis. Fortunately, there are a lot of different software packages available for this purpose. Even if you only need a template to help you along, these software packages will work well for you.

Remember that your goal is to assess the way in which your employee is performing in relation to their job description and requirements. You will want to be really strict here in order to motivate your employee to perform even better.

The Manager’s Guide to Increasing Employee Productivity

As mentioned, while you write the employee evaluation your employee should also be writing an honest self-appraisal. This is something that you will want to look over before finalizing your evaluation. It will give you some important information to consider before sharing your review with your employee.

The evaluation itself should also provide you with opportunities in which to coach the employee. Make sure that all of this is documented in order to ensure everybody’s understanding of what needs to be improved and areas in which the employee is excelling. You will want to document your employees’ reaction to the entire process.

A Final Word

First of all, you must make sure that employee reviews are done in a timely manner. This is important because whenever these reviews are constantly late, it can be very frustrating for the employee. So, if a review is due on a specific date, make sure that you get it done on that date and at the scheduled time. While your employees understand that you are busy, an untimely review simply suggests a lack of respect for them.

It is also important to remember that the evaluation is about your employee, not yourself. Also keep in mind that an honest evaluation only includes job performance-based issues and achievements, though you may have opinions regarding the employee’s home life and personal time. Don’t let the latter influence the former.

Finally, it is important to keep the evaluation relaxed and comfortable; nobody should feel intimidated or abused. Reviews should be beneficial to everyone, which is why they are so important. This is especially true if you concern yourself with building a good working relationship with your employees. The evaluation process is just another tool to improve the company’s employee development program — and a good manager knows how to use this tool effectively.

(Image courtesy of MyDigitalSLR under a Creative Commons Attribution-NonCommercial-NoDerivs 2.0 generic license.)

Source:  WorkAwesome

As children many of us hyped the statement, “Sticks and stones may break my bones, but words will never hurt me.” Clearly, it doesn’t take long to realize that words have far more weight than we want to realize. They influence thoughts, feelings, actions and states of mind. Even little words often have big meaning.

Think about it. Whether you want to land your dream job, improve your friendships, save your marriage or retain your employees; the words you choose can make all the difference. The simplest little words, which we take for granted, have the power to hurt or heal, to inspire or discourage, to help or to hinder.

The list below includes 18 examples of little words that have big meaning in the most positive way.
1. Thank you
Because every single one of us longs to feel appreciated, words of gratitude make the heart sing. Thank you, I appreciate you, I’m grateful for you—these words are food for the soul.

2. I forgive you
We all screw up. Unintentionally, we may hurt our friends, children, co-workers, and others. Words of forgiveness heal the heart by lifting the crippling burden of guilt.

3. I love you
Quite possibly the greatest statement of all, nothing compares to, “I love you.” These words reflect the purest, most natural gift known to mankind: love. The only thing that beats saying the words I love you is showing love through action.

4. I was wrong
Few words have the power to ignite the flame of forgiveness like the unselfish, courageous admission of wrongdoing. When we’re hurt, we know that the past can’t be changed; yet acknowledgment of the pain that has been caused goes a long way towards improving the future.

5. You are beautiful
When we feel ugly inside or out, it means the world to hear that someone else still thinks we’re beautiful.

6. It’s okay
When we are worried, hurt, anxious or afraid, these words of reassurance help to bring about peace of mind. If you’ve ever cried on the shoulder of a friend, you know how good it feels to have someone remind you that everything is going to be just fine.

7. I understand
It’s human nature to try to relate to others, so nothing is more frustrating than feeling misunderstood. In times when we feel alone, misjudged or isolated in our beliefs; an understanding friend is much appreciated. We don’t necessarily need others to agree, but we long for someone who says, “I get it. I understand. I see your point.”

8. You’re safe
When we feel vulnerable and afraid, these words have the power to restore the sense of security and protection that we crave. Fear may disease the mind, but words of safety are a part of the antidote.

9. I admire you
Having someone look up to you, think highly of you, or aspire to follow in your footsteps is motivating beyond belief. Words of admiration are empowering, as they impart a sense of importance by reminding us that we’re making an impact.

10. I support you
When making a tough decision, which may or may not be the best, it means the world to know that someone is on your side no matter what. Statements like, “I’ll be there” and “I support you” encourage us to move forward with less fear of judgment.

11. You can do it
When you’re contemplating giving up or battling feelings of self-doubt, encouraging words make all the difference in the world. There’s something about knowing that someone else has faith in you that revitalizes the faith you should have in yourself.

12. You’re the one
These words say I choose you, you are it for me, you are special. Few things top the feeling that comes with knowing that you stand out in an exceptional way to someone.

13. It’s all about you
Most days in life aren’t all about self, but we never forget the days that are. On occasions like birthdays, graduations and weddings; we thrive in the knowledge that it’s our own special day. It feels great to have unselfish friends who allow your special days to be absolutely 100% about you.

14. I’m here for you
If you’ve ever needed a shoulder to cry on, you know the power of these words. They remind us that we are not alone, that someone is there to help us through pain, loss, and all of life’s struggles. Even those who appear to have life under control need someone dependable in their corner.

15. Great job
Great job. Congratulations. Job well done. Whether or not we admit it, most of us delight in others’ recognition of our efforts. Words of praise and recognition inspire us to do more, to work harder and to feel a sense of pride.

16. I miss you
We can’t always be present with those that we love, yet it means so much to know that we are missed during our absence. This is a way of saying, I love your company and I can’t wait until we’re together again.

17. You matter
We all want to feel that we are important to someone or something other than ourselves. To hear that you are valued by another person, particularly at times when you feel useless or insignificant, is extra special.

18. I’m sorry
When the heart aches, a sincere apology sets the stage for forgiveness and healing. I’m sorry, please forgive me, I apologize—these are all statements that show recognition of the damage caused and a desire to ease the pain.

I hope you’ve enjoyed these little words with big meaning. As you continue with your day, take care to speak wisely and to use those words that you’d love to have spoken in return. Finally, remember something – people don’t know how you feel unless you say it; don’t assume they do!

Source: Dumb Little Man

Reality TV has bounced back, gone are the days of sitting watching other people go about their daily life in shows such as Big Brother.  Instead we are now addicted to the new wave of reality TV with people raising the bar, the underdog learning new skills and being mentored to achieve huge heights of success.

So you think you can dance? Well you can with the training and development of one of the country’s best dancers.  Are you a Masterchef?  Indeed with the help of feedback and mentoring by world-renowned chefs and food critics.

Part of the success of these shows and of the winners, is the focus on feedback from the mentors in the show.  Yes – it is difficult to point out the flaws in the individual’s performance and no – I am sure you would rather not be filmed receiving such criticism but when the feedback is taken on board and digested then it appears you really can have it all.

So whether you are looking for a new job, receiving feedback from your recruiter or you are in your performance review at work; feedback is a crucial step in evolving and reaching new levels of success.

You do need to be able to not take it personally.  Here’s a quick guide to how:

1. Remember you are receiving feedback about your performance to help you develop.
2. Try to remove the emotion from any comments and look for the positive not the negative.
3. Consider how you may be able to build on the feedback, what can you take away to help you?
4. As well as receive the feedback, utilise the expert’s advice, ask -what would they do to improve/develop?
5. Consider this – giving feedback can be tough too; the person delivering hopefully has your best interests at heart.

So next time you are on your own stage under the spotlight and you feel your cheeks reddening, your heartbeat racing and your spirits dampened, remember that the feedback you are about to receive is delivered to help you move forward.

It could soon be you dishing out the feedback to help others.

(Image Eric McGregor)