A few months back we published a blog about how to conduct annual performance reviews for senior staff.
As we said in that blog, performance reviews are a two-way process and should be just one part of an ongoing conversation with your staff.
And, for those conversations to be of value to your business, they need to be candid. Staff must feel comfortable giving you honest feedback about any aspect of the business – including you!
How to get the feedback flowing
Senior staff members bring considerable experience and insight to your business. If you only tap into those insights during their annual review, you’re missing opportunities to fully utilise the capability of your people.
In our business we’re aiming to achieve a culture where, as a team, we regularly reflect on learnings, challenges, achievements and plans.
To do this we have conversations about:
- what worked
- what didn’t
- why
- what might need to change to improve.
How to ensure the feedback is ‘frank’
As business owners we’re often aware of our own ‘pain points’ in achieving our desired aims and objectives – things that frustrate us or get in the road.
In seeking feedback, you should welcome the opportunity to hear about your team members’ pain points – what’s getting in their road as an individual, and as part of the firm’s team?
Sometimes this will be confronting to hear and deal with, because true feedback will often question your so-called ‘norms’ – try not to be too defensive in these moments.
Approach the conversation with an open mind – you are likely to learn something about yourself and your company, and they may be ‘hidden gems’ that can really benefit your business. Even small refinements to existing processes and practices can contribute to significant cultural advances and productivity improvements.
How do you know the conversation has been a good one?
The conversation has been a success when:
- your fellow team members take the lead in the discussion and you do most of the listening;
- there is open, frank and respectful discussion;
- all parties take responsibility for their past actions;
- all parties welcome accountability for future improvement plans, both for the themselves and the business – accountability is the key to a team working together effectively to achieve its goals.
If you’d like to invest time and effort in your most important assets – your people – by fostering a positive work culture within your business and improving accountability and performance, feel free to contact the JPAbusiness team 02 6360 0360 or 02 9893 1803 for a confidential, initial discussion.
