“If we want to have an improvement in performance then we need to focus on helping our people grow. Whether this be how they work themselves or how they work with others. We cannot remain the same and expect to have increased outputs.”
Kevin Johnson, CEO at OnTrack.
When it comes to managing your team, you want to ensure your employees are growing and developing whilst ensuring they are also focused on the company’s vision and values. This is when performance planning becomes a useful tool to implement. A performance plan breeds an environment of transformation within the workplace which will lead to positive results.
What is a performance plan?
A performance plan is a way of measuring and tracking employee performance through setting objectives and goals.
This document encourages regular communication and meetings to discuss the employee’s productivity, goals and aspirations as well as bring up any issues or areas for development. For each company, this document will vary in content, but we recommend including your company vision and values so you can align goals to these.
An initial goal setting meeting should be held with the employee to create this plan. This will give you the chance to have a discussion with your team member to set goals and objectives for the coming year/6 months. These goals and objectives should reflect your employee’s own ambitions and what they want to achieve, whilst also aligning them with your company’s vision and targets.
All goals and objectives should be noted down on the performance plan as well as achievable steps to reach them. Ensure the goals and objectives are SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant and Time-bound) for maximum efficiency and clarity.
How to use a performance plan?
Once you have written up the performance plan you can then refer to this whenever you have a catch up with your employee. This way you can ensure they are working towards their goals and can provide support when needed.
Why use a performance plan?
This is a document which is beneficial for both the company and the employee.
For the company, it is an effective way to monitor employee performance as well as highlight any areas they may need to improve upon. This enables you to implement any relevant internal training they may require reaching these goals. These plans also help to identify any potential skill gaps within the team. It is a great way to see what skillsets you have within the team and what other skills you potentially need to arrange training for.
For the employee, this not only gives them something to work towards, but also gives them a sense of direction and purpose aligned to the overall company strategy. This will also help employees feel more important and respected within the company which in turn provides more job satisfaction.
How can OnTrack help?
As learning and development consultants we are experts in helping companies and individuals excel. We recognise that employees like to be challenged to grow and develop, which is why we offer a wide range of bespoke training programmes. These help companies overcome any business challenges and create a motivated workforce.
Whatever business challenge you may be facing, whether it is leadership issues, driving performance improvement, digital engagement or hybrid working, we can help create a bespoke training package which is tailored to your needs and requirements.
We offer a broad range of learning from workshops and online courses to our blended learning solutions.
Contact us today to find out how we can help your employees excel and develop even further.
