Writing Performance Appraisals is an ongoing process completed throughout the entire review period, rather than just a year-end event. What should happen during that process? At the beginning of the year or whenever a new employee joins the team, the manager and employee discuss and agree upon the employee’s individual performance objectives and create a formal Performance Agreement. Interim discussions provide reinforcement, coaching, and feedback to help the employee reach objectives. The manager and employee document ongoing performance and update the Performance Agreement as needed to identify changes in responsibility and objectives.
Managers use monthly meetings and the mid-year performance evaluation to assess the employee’s performance and provide an opportunity to re-focus on objectives. For the year-end Performance Appraisal, the manager and employee identify results toward objectives and other accomplishments. The year-end Appraisal recognizes accomplishments and lays out a Development Plan for the upcoming year.
What should a manager do when a new employee joins the team other than at the beginning of the Performance Review cycle? If the employee comes to you from a previous manager, immediately ask that other manager for the employee’s records so that you can leverage strengths and provide continuity for development areas as well as write a complete Performance Appraisal at the end of the year. If the previous manager left the organization without providing documentation for his/her team, immediately talk with your Management Team and Human Resources Department about locating any existing documentation for this employee.
At the beginning of the Performance Appraisal process, what do employees need to know to meet a manager’s expectations and be successful during the upcoming year? Ensure that employees know (1) the organization’s goals, team goals, and expectations for their individual objectives, ratings, measures, and Core Values—how they are to contribute to the team’s success; (2) how the rating system works and the specific measures for each objective. Employees should be familiar with the Performance Appraisal process and form. Employees should know the organization’s Code of Conduct and the Attendance Policy and the ramifications of not complying.
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