Home » Blog » Are appraisals working for you and your employees?

If yes, that’s great, but if no, what is the alternative?  Well have your managers talking to their employees on a regular basis; make it more manager and employee friendly.  Both may find it easier catching up regularly rather than building up to an annual appraisal.  One to one’s are great to ensure they keep in touch.  You need to ensure there is a framework for your managers to work from and make sure they are documented centrally so both parties can see the actions.

What guidelines should you give your managers?

Agenda:  Have an agenda to cover the subjects you both wish to cover and circulate it before the meeting.  Don’t forget to work through it on the day.

Listen: To each other, this is a two way communication and it is not just about the ‘to do list’

Actions: Make notes of actions for both parties

Summarise in email: It only takes a few minutes but everyone knows what is expected from them.

Do the actions: Ensure these are done in time for the next meeting

So it is easy to say ‘have an agenda’, but what should you put on the agenda?  Here are some suggestions

• Their current work load
• Good things and not so good things that happened since the last meeting
• How you, as their manager, can help them
• Projects that are up and coming
• Anything outside work that they may wish to discuss

Then every three months focus on different subjects which could be

• Career Development
• Skills gaps
• Salary reviews

Whatever communication or review system you introduce, you need to ensure everyone has bought in to the ‘why’ and make it more than a tick box exercise for HR.  With regular catch ups you can be immediately react to

• Recent scenarios and learn from them
• Give and document praise
• Correct a mistake and deal with under performance.
• Identify training needs
• Ensure the employee is engaged
• Be aware of any changes in your employees lives

CIPD published research – Strengths-based performance conversations.  They found that including ‘non-job related chat’ increased a stronger relationship and higher employee engagement.

Remember is it about your managers working with your employees.

Do you need help with introducing a one to one system, and then do not hesitate to contact us on enquiries@HRBusCons.co.uk.

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