“Your top performers are top performers because they’re driven and a driven individual wants to hear feedback.”
In episode #114 of Mission to Grow, the Asure podcast that serves as small business owners’ guide to cash, compliance, and the War for Talent, VP of HR Compliance and Learning and Development at Asure Software, Mary Simmons, sits down with host Mike Vannoy to discuss how productivity is often more about the quality of work rather than quantity and discusses best practices for communicating job performance expectations. Mary shares the importance of formal performance reviews, the value of 360 reviews, and the role of documented performance improvement plans in managing underperforming employees.
Takeaways:
- Quality Over Quantity: A few highly skilled engineers can outperform a larger team due to their efficiency and innovative problem-solving skills.
- Communicating Expectations: Regularly updating and communicating job performance expectations is crucial. It should be an ongoing conversation rather than a one-time discussion.
- Performance Reviews: The effectiveness of performance reviews is not just in having them but in how they are conducted. Regular, honest, and constructive feedback helps in employee growth.
- 360 Reviews: Gaining feedback from multiple sources within an organization offers a comprehensive view of an employee’s performance and fosters better internal relationships.
- Documenting Performance Improvement Plans: Written plans ensure that expectations and feedback are clear and can protect against legal challenges. They also help employees understand areas of improvement and the steps needed to meet performance standards.