Tel: 44 (0) 1883 345669
Fax: 44 (0) 1883 343237
E-mail:Peter Hinkson
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Even with today's "enlightened" approaches to managing people, many organisations have no formal approach to helping their employees achieve good results. How many organisations have managers with years of experience who adopt the attitude that causes them to say "I know who's working and who isn't"? On the other hand there are organisations that have invested large amounts of time, money and people in developing sophisticated approaches to planning and measuring performance. As a result a plethora of different techniques for assessing whether or not employees are doing a job as well as it can be done or as well as they are capable of doing it makes it very confusing for business leaders to choose the right method for their organisation.

Balanced Score Card? Behavioural Observation? Competency Based Appraisals?

The traditional annual appraisal, although a positive step by comparison with having nothing at all, became a once a year event in which the conclusion was already decided by the supervisor, often signed off by senior management and then presented to the employee for signature. No opportunity for dialogue beforehand or for the employee to provide any feedback until after the event. Frequently the documents, although used as the basis for salary reviews and promotion decisions, were never seen by the employees before they went on their personnel files.

A continuous Performance Management Process is designed to enhance performance by encouraging employees to understand

1. how they fit into the bigger picture
2. how what they do contributes to the organisation's success and
3. how to prioritise what they do and the actions they take

Regular exchanges of two-way communication to check for progress, adapt to new developments and ensure proper understanding between the supervisor and the employee are designed to ensure that there are no nasty surprises and no time and resources wasted doing things that are not relevant to the business.

Hinkson Associates work with clients to identify an approach to managing performance that is both appropriate and manageable for their businesses. Relevant commercial performance metrics can be included along with "softer" elements of style, communication, application and working relationships.

After planning the format, the process and the timetable employees and supervisors are given guidance under the following headings: -