These strategies can encourage leaders to make the most of difficult performance and other conversations–and enhance the greater good. By: Leigh Ann Errico At every level in the corporate world, there are dreaded responsibilities that are just part of the job. For many top executives, the tough conversations about performance and career trajectory have long fallen victim to procrastination, but connecting on a personal level is even more challenging now when a report is on the other side of a screen, rather than the other side of a desk. With mid-year performance reviews upon us, here are the top four reasons why executives are apprehensive about this type of dialogue and what HR leaders can do to transform these tasks into opportunities: 1. They never received direct feedback themselves, so they don’t know what behavior should model such a discussion. It really is surprising how few executives have been on the receiving end of a rave review. And some have never even taken part in an in-person performance review session, so they lack a picture of what one looks like–regardless of whether the report is great or grim. AdvertisementHR executives can ease the pain by providing a tip sheet of phrases to open the conversation and transition between positive and negative feedback. For example, a manager could say, “There must have been obstacles to achieve all that you have; I’d love to take a moment to explore the challenges you’ve encountered and share some of my own observations.” Or, “We are all on our own developmental journey, and to that end, I’d like to share my thoughts on growth opportunities for you and hear your valuable perspective, as well.” A short video role-play could also be created and shared with managers as a refresher before every season of performance reviews. 2. They do not properly prepare for review sessions. Many leaders underestimate the time it takes to plan a meaningful feedback session and skip steps that are necessary to both understand and be understood. HR leaders can help managers shape productive conversations by creating a one-pager that prompts them to think through one-on-ones well in advance. Consider including suggestions, such as:
HR leaders can relieve the understandable angst that comes with performance reviews by sending a company-wide memo before they begin to calibrate expectations. Key points include:
Let’s face it … in our time-crunched world, “What gets measured is what gets done” – and I might add “and gets done better!” Most organizations do not assess how well their leaders facilitate performance reviews and help their reports map out their career trajectories. If HR executives push for their companies to tie this skill to compensation, improvement will come. For example, direct reports could rate multiple aspects of their performance reviews, and managers could receive bonuses that correspond with their average rating. Like magic, managers will pay more attention to their own performance during these exercises. For the majority of executives, it’s human nature to avoid interpersonal conflict with the employees they’ll have to face around conference tables, in the break room, and on Zoom calls. But HR leaders can step up to solve the problem with invaluable guidance for effectively confronting difficult conversations with clear, confident action. Tough career conversations may be viewed as necessary evils, but when done right, they absolutely enhance the greater good. Leigh Ann Errico is a Georgetown University-certified leadership coach, Corentus-certified team coach and the founder of LA Errico & Partners. Read the article on Human Resource Executive's site: https://bit.ly/3xIHY9V
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May 2022
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