Managing employee performance is vital in any workplace. Whether you’re running a restaurant or nonprofit organization, it’s important to stay on top of how your team members are working together. Here’s where performance management comes in. In order to improve overall performance, companies and organizations implement a set of standards by which to measure employee success. How do you implement these sustainable workplace practices? Stick with netlogx to find out! 

Why Managing Performance Management Internally Is Crucial 

Performance management is the set of strategies used by organizations to ensure their team members and vendors are performing to a certain standard. It requires ongoing communication and feedback between a manager and their employee regarding the employee’s job performance outcome to achieve organizational objectives. 

Monitoring performance is crucial for a variety of reasons—from guaranteeing an exceptional customer experience to cutting costs and maximizing profits. This process helps ensure that defined activities and outputs meet the organization’s goals and align employees’ jobs with the organization’s strategic and operational goals. Further, when you implement quality performance management techniques, you’re showing your employees you care about their success and the overall workplace culture. 

Take the Onboarding Process Seriously

Onboarding is the process of integrating a new employee into a workplace structure. This, of course, involves training, but it goes far beyond just teaching a new hire how to do the job. A good onboarding process gets people familiar with the values of the organization and guides them as they find their place within the team. 

Training Lays The Right Foundation

Training is the first and most important part of the performance management cycle. In order to set your team up for success, be sure to create clear training modules that walk new hires through all the ins and outs of their position. Expect questions along the way, and don’t be slow to update your training programs as necessary. During this time, be sure to establish metrics by which you’ll measure success later on and make improvements as needed. 

Frequent Check-Ins 

It’s not enough to show a new hire the ropes and then leave them to their own devices! Performance training requires regular check-ins to make sure the employee understands their role and successfully complete their job duties. In addition to reflecting on their performance, ask the new hire if they have any questions as it relates to the position or workplace culture. Share with them how you have been measuring their success. 

Periodic Reviews 

Once you have trained your new team member and kept up with regular check-ins for the first few months, the next step is to schedule periodic reviews. These could be monthly, quarterly, or annually—whatever makes the most sense for your organization. Use this time to measure overall productivity and set goals for the upcoming months. Periodic reviews are favored by both parties compared to annual reviews because they encourage more frequent communication for continuous feedback.

Creating (and Maintaining) a Positive Work Environment 

The key to sustainable performance management is positivity. After all, employees are unlikely to meet their objectives if they’re unhappy in the workplace. Fortunately, there are plenty of strategies for cultivating a positive work environment for all. Here are some ideas for ensuring your team members are happy to come to work:

  • Flexible Scheduling: Implement hybrid work schedules or work from home permission for positions that don’t need to be in the office every day. 
  • Collaborative Spaces: Incorporate collaborative, comfortable spaces into your workplace whenever possible—whether that be virtually or physically! 
  • Social Opportunities: Give your team members a chance to socialize with each other. This could be as structured as organizing a team outing or as simple as introducing a new messaging app. 
  • Open the Door for Feedback: Let your team know you’re open to feedback about processes and office culture. When employees feel heard and valued, they’re more likely to enjoy their time at the office. 

Improve Your Performance Management Processes with netlogx

Are you stumped on ways to improve performance management at your company? Partner with netlogx! Our consultants can guide you through best practices for sustainable performance management. Request a consultation today to get started.