According to Gallup, only 14% of employees found performance reviews help improve their professional growth. It's clear that this is an area organizations and leaders can improve upon.
There is a clear disconnect between employees and management about how to communicate performance metrics effectively. Every organization is unique and will need to understand their specific needs of their employees to improve, but we've provided a list of the best general practices below!
5 Ways to Communicate Performance Metrics Effectively
- Be clear and concise. Employees need to be able to understand the metrics that are being used to measure their performance. The metrics should be clearly defined and explained in a way that is easy for employees to understand.
- Be consistent. The metrics that are used to measure employee performance should be consistent over time. This will help employees to track their progress and identify areas where they need to improve. Using a platform or place to track these goals can help with consistency.
- Be timely. Employees should receive feedback on their performance in a timely manner. This will help them to make adjustments to their performance as needed. More regular, informal performance feedback can also help maintain focus on goals.
- Be fair. The metrics that are used to measure employee performance should be fair and equitable. All employees should be held to the same standards.
- Be positive. The focus of performance feedback should be on helping employees improve their performance. The feedback should be constructive and helpful, not negative or critical.
By following these tips, organizations and leaders can communicate performance metrics effectively and help employees improve their performance.
Additional Tips for Communicating Performance with Employees and Teams
- Use visuals. Visuals can be a great way to communicate performance metrics in a way that is easy to understand. For example, you can create and use charts or graphs to show how employees are performing against their goals.
- Make it personal. When you communicate performance metrics to employees, make sure to personalize the feedback. This shows the employee that you truly care and will help the employee actually hear what you're saying. It can also help show how their performance is impacting the organization and how they can improve.
- Be specific. When you provide feedback on employee performance, be as specific as possible. This will help employees understand what, where, and why they need to improve.
- Be actionable. The feedback you provide to employees should be actionable. This means that it should be specific enough that employees know how to adjust their work behavior and process to improve upon their metrics.
By following these tips, you can communicate performance metrics effectively and help employees improve their engagement and performance!
