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Ageism in DMV Offices

December 19, 2024 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Aging is one of the certainties of life. At some point in everyone’s lifetime, there will be more yesterdays than tomorrows. With this passage comes the experience of ageism. According to a study by the University of Michigan National Poll on Healthy Aging, 93% of older adults report experiencing at least one form of ageism regularly. Ageism is to old age as racism is to skin color, and sexism is to gender.

A significant percentage (93%) of older adults acknowledge that health issues are an inherent part of aging, despite a majority (83%) reporting good or excellent health. Interestingly, a strong correlation exists between higher levels of perceived ageism and poorer self-reported physical and mental health.

A substantial portion (65%) of older adults encounter ageist jokes or messages in media such as television, the internet, and magazines. Individuals who spend considerable time with these media sources tend to exhibit higher levels of perceived ageism.

A considerable number (45%) of older adults report experiencing interpersonal ageism, whereas others assume they struggle with technology, vision, hearing, comprehension, memory, or independent functioning.

An example of everyday ageism can be found in the use of age-mocking humor that is commonly featured in many birthday cards, where either the appearances or the frailty of older bodies and minds are used as fodder for jokes and acerbic commentary. Ageism appears in all contexts, including healthcare, where older adults often receive inadequate care. In the workplace, older workers face discrimination in hiring, promotions, and job assignments. Older adults encounter discrimination in housing, with rental applications denied or evictions based on age stereotypes. Of course, ageism is present to one degree or another in driving tests.

Media also perpetuates negative stereotypes about older adults through movies, TV shows, and advertisements. Social interactions can include ageist comments and behaviors during family gatherings or social events. Public policies might disadvantage older adults unintentionally, such as retirement age regulations and limited elder care support.

In its worst form, ageism leads to elder abuse, mistreatment, and neglect. Since the pandemic, ageism has worsened. Hashtags such as “boomer removal” have been trending on social media platforms – implying that it is now acceptable to ask

Ageism in DMV Offices

Driving vehicles has been made easier over the last century, beginning with not cranking a car, risking what was called Ford Fractures, to get it started to turn signals replacing hand signals, from manual to automatic transmissions, to using GPS navigation instead of using paper maps. What has not kept pace are the standards for testing drivers or at least the old standards being applied to senior citizens reflecting ageism.

Ageism in driving tests manifests itself where older drivers are subjected to stricter testing standards or are automatically considered less capable drivers simply because of their age, often leading to unnecessary concerns about their ability to drive safely, even if they demonstrate competent driving skills; this can include requiring more frequent re-tests or applying harsher judgment during evaluations solely based on age, rather than individual ability.

However, my experience shows that ageism often influences the demands of these tests. If the DMV genuinely cares about their safety, it would allow people to use the technology that they use every day for the test itself. Many California drivers are affected. As of 2024, California has over 27 million licensed drivers, with approximately 10% of these drivers aged 65 and older, indicating that there are around 2.7 million senior drivers in the state. The Insurance Institute for Highway Safety reports that the number of licensed drivers aged 70 and older in the U.S. increased by 92% between 1997 and 2022, with 73% of this age group holding licenses in 1997, rising to 89% in 2022.

Advances in Auto Use

The king can do no wrong

July 2, 2024 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Benjamin Franklin famously remarked, “A republic, if you can keep it,” in response to a question about the type of government the Constitutional Convention had created. This statement underscores the idea that maintaining a democratic republic requires active participation and vigilance from its citizens.

You’ve heard by now that the Supreme Court has ruled in favor of Trump in his immunity case. How bad can that really be?

Justice Sonia Sotomayor, who has come out punching like the new RBG, wrote the main dissent;

“A President’s use of any official power for any purpose, even the most corrupt, is immune from prosecution. That is just as bad as it sounds,” she wrote.

Then, “In every use of official power, the President is now a king above the law.”

But wait, there’s more:

“Today’s decision to grant former Presidents criminal immunity reshapes the institution of the Presidency. It makes a mockery of the principle, foundational to our Constitution and system of Government, that no man is above the law.”

Ash Bhagwat, a professor and expert in constitutional law at UC Davis, told me none of that was an exaggeration. The office of the president is now weaponized for personal use — as long as the president can claim some sort of official connection.

He brought up Trump’s famous line: “I could stand in the middle of Fifth Avenue and shoot somebody, and I wouldn’t lose any voters, OK?”

“After this decision, if he did it, he’d be in trouble,” Bhagwat said. “But if he ordered the Army to do it, he’s immune.”

And if you aren’t scared enough, let me bring up another Supreme Court decision last week: Chevron vs. Natural Resources Defense Council.

For 40 years, legal precedent has essentially given federal agencies the power to determine how best to regulate industries that don’t like to be regulated but that Congress has ordered to be watched.

The Supreme Court overturned that precedent and said if Congress didn’t spell out every itty-bitty detail on something like, say, what constitutes polluting our water supply, then the agency in question can’t decide for itself.

Basically, it guts federal regulation — all of it, across the board — by making it subject to court interpretation. This has long been a dream of ultra-conservatives and goes hand-in-hand with Trump/Project 2025 threats to fire civil servants if elected.

So little things like how Medicare and Medicaid health plans are administered, how clean air and water rules are implemented and how tobacco sales are regulated are all up for grabs. If any industry doesn’t like it, it need only find a like-minded judge.

But he’s got a bigger worry. Over the past decade, he said, there have been a series of rulings giving the executive office greater power over the federal bureaucracy.

Combine that increase in power with today’s immunity ruling — and top it off with the purge of civil servants Trump has promised if elected, the last line of defense of anyone willing to argue with him — and we are a democracy in name only.

The National Nervous Breakdown -This brings us to the debate, also known as the National Nervous Breakdown. It wasn’t just hard to watch Biden stumble and fumble — it hurt our collective, democracy-loving psyche. If we can’t have clean water, can we at least replace the fluoride with Prozac?

There are already people displaying Nazi flags. More than a fifth column believes it is justifiable to overthrow the govenment.

Social media, Can Be Used to Spreading False Information

May 23, 2023 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

People can intentionally deceive others or unknowingly share misinformation they believe to be true on .

Some tips on how to avoid falling for misinformation and fake AI images on social media:

Be patient and wary.

Consider the information before you share it. Ask yourself:

Is the information from a credible source?
Does the information seem too good to be true?
Is the information consistent with other information I’ve seen?

Check the source. Don’t just trust any old source of information. Make sure the source is credible and has a good reputation. If you’re not sure, do a quick Google search to see what other people are saying about the source.

Look for clues. There are often clues that can help you spot fake AI images. For example, the images may be blurry or pixelated or have strange artifacts. You can employ a reverse image search to determine if the image has been utilized elsewhere on the internet.

Use fact-checking websites to assess the accuracy of various claims, statements, and news articles on social media platforms. You can verify the accuracy of the information on social media by referring to several fact-checking sites. These sites analyze and assess claims, statements, and news articles on social media platforms. Here is a list: Here is a list of some fact-checking websites that verify information on social media:

Snopes (www.snopes.com)
org (www.factcheck.org)
PolitiFact (www.politifact.com)
The Washington Post Fact Checker (www.washingtonpost.com/news/fact-checker)
BBC Reality Check (www.bbc.co.uk/news/reality_check)
Associated Press Fact Check (apnews.com/apfactcheck)
Reuters Fact Check (www.reuters.com/fact-check)
Full Fact (fullfact.org)
Check Your Fact (checkyourfact.com)
Truth or Fiction (www.truthorfiction.com)

Verify the accuracy of information. These listed sites often have experts who are qualified to spot misinformation.

Be skeptical. It’s essential to be skeptical of information you see online, even if it comes from a source you trust. The internet is full of misinformation, and it can be difficult to tell what’s real and what’s not.

Following these tips can help you protect yourself from misinformation and fake AI images on social media.

In addition to the above tips, here are some other things you can do to help combat misinformation:

Report misinformation. If you see misinformation on social media, report it to the platform. This will help the platform remove the misinformation and prevent it from spreading.
Educate others. Talk to your friends and family about the dangers of misinformation. Help them understand how to spot fake news and report it.
Support fact-checking organizations. Fact-checking organizations are doing important work to combat misinformation. Donate to or volunteer with a fact-checking organization to help them continue their important work.

Watch out when you buy products on social media sites

May 5, 2023 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Scammers searching for money and credit card information are exploiting more young people on their home turf of social media. An example is advertising a clothing organizer and sending an empty plastic bag. Another is selling puppies, particularly to senior citizens, and sending nothing. But the scamsters do more than fleece people out of money.

Scammers often use shoppers’ credit-card information to buy gift cards or cryptocurrency; other times, they sell consumers’ credit-card numbers, names, and addresses.

Facebook and TikTok are often used for these scams. Facebook offers limited protection:

According to Facebook’s purchase-protection policy, disputed purchases aren’t covered if buyers conduct transactions through Facebook Messenger or other messaging services, local pickups or third-party sites.

How can you protect yourself when you buy anything from a social media site? What can you do?

Research the seller: Before making a purchase, look up the seller’s website, social media pages, and reviews from other customers. Check if the seller has a verified account or has received any product certifications or awards. If the seller’s website or social media pages seem unprofessional or incomplete, or if there are numerous negative reviews, it may be a red flag that the seller is not legitimate.
Check the product details: Look for product descriptions, images, and specifications to determine whether they seem reasonable and accurate. If the product is significantly cheaper than similar items on other websites or seems too good to be true, it may be a sign that it is not legitimate.
Look for contact information: Legitimate sellers should be able to contact them directly, such as an email address, phone number, or physical address. If the seller only provides a contact form or no contact information, it may be a sign that they are not a legitimate business.
Check for secure payment methods: Legitimate sellers should offer secure payment methods, such as credit cards or PayPal, that offer buyer protection. If the seller only accepts cash or wire transfers, it may indicate that they are not a legitimate business.
Use a trusted third-party platform: Consider using a trusted third-party platform, such as Amazon, eBay, or Etsy, to make your purchase. These platforms typically have buyer protection policies and can help resolve disputes between buyers and sellers.

Bogus Invoices in Your Inbox – Don’t Be Suckered

November 5, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Do you get invoices you do not recognize? We get them virtually every day and often more than once a day. When we get them we wonder how they got our email address.

Here are actual examples of things or services I did not order

“Order ID:YQ38526672

Subscription Mail : (my email address)

Auto Renewal Notice

Thank You”

“This membership shall automatically renew each year. # 2451-QW741220 is the item number.#”

Sent: Monday, October 31, 2022 10:54 AM
To: (my email address)

From: “Invoice No.-781244336” <ellielily3265@gmail.com>
Date: October 31, 2022 at 9:49:17 AM PDT
To: (email address)
Subject: This membership shall automatically renew each year. # 2451-QW741220 is the item number.#

Hi dear customer,

Ship method: online

Tracking number: YU878049

Thank you for shopping with geek squad. Your subscription package was delivered. We have received a renewing request for a geek squad subscription. Deduction of this amount will appear on your bank account within 24 hours. We have charged you $ 324.00 from your bank account.

We have tried to contact you on your registered number but we could not get through. Your service is not cancelled yet. If this payment was not made by you or you find anything suspicious about this payment. Contact with our support team.

Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions or query about the amount deduction on your bank account.

+1 {8–8–8} – — {9–8–5}–- {***4–6–1–4Thank you for shopping with McAfee. Your subscription package was delivered. We have received a renewing request for a McAfee subscription. Deduction of This Amount will appear on your Bank account b within 24 hours. We have charged you $ 336.00 from your bank account.

We have tried to contact you on your registered number but we could not get through. Your service is not cancelled yet. If this payment was not made by you or you find anything suspicious about this payment. Contact with our support team.

As a reminder, here are the details:

Order number: OK-9874525

Order date: November 3th 2022

Tracking number: IU789456123

Ship method: online

McAfee Support Team

Hi dear customer,

Please don’t hesitate to call us if you have any questions or query about the amount deduction on your bank account.”

Notifications N°::#07973590

McafeeRenewal info_5sIrDQ51Oyd@news.kkpwgemwdzv.com via ezcasinjqxg7eubxtq.refvvefree.com

11:06 AM (6 hours ago)

to PauloJ, PaulMc

From: 452342234 # Order Confirmation <fdgxdfjdzfhfd33@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 1, 2022 11:27 AM
To: l
Subject: the secure services code 6332GFD2C500#

LIFE LOCK 360

From: 8167621 # Invoice Confirmation <x72560384@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, December 1, 2022 8:47 AM
To: drsarahaedwards@outlook.com
Subject: Secure service plan #855001411#

Dear ++++++++++++++ User

You’ve been a customer of ours for a while; we hope you’re happy with the services we provide. Norton Security’s Active Subscription for you has ended. This plan will automatically renew for the following two years at the $448 price you have chosen. Your bank account will be debited for the applicable amount.

INSIGHTS ABOUT YOUR PURCHASE

Product: 360 Premium Safe

Invoice No: KL-74441-YU744

Validity: 2 years

Payment: Auto Debit

Date: 01st December 2022

Renewal Charge: $431USD

Unless you ask to stop it, this subscription will automatically renew every two years.
Contact us right away for a solution if you have any questions or want to discontinue this membership.

You can reach us at +1(801) 438-6858

What can you do? The first thing is not to get alarmed. You can safely ignore these. While they often look “real,” if you look at the email address of the sender, there is always something wrong with it.

How do they get your email address? The person sending these may be in Asia or Africa and so out of reach of U.S. authorities. They obtain email addresses from something called the Dark Web, where you have let in making a purchase or filling out an online form is gathered and sold. Here is the kind of information crooks can get:

It’s time the Federal Communications Commission or Congress directs the channel bundlers to unbundle the channels

October 29, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Bundling as a pricing strategy has been with us for some time. When bundling combines TV, phone, and Internet services into one bill, consumers can save. It can provide one-stop shopping for homeowners and often providers make promotional offers such as free installation.

However, bundling is to the consumer’s detriment when the limited number of providers of television, such as Dish, use bundling to force the consumer to pay for channels they do not want or use. The major TV providers are Comcast, Spectrum, Sky, and DIRECTV. With Dish, if one only wants CNN, it is available only if you subscribe to Flex Pack for $52.99. To get MSNBC, one must get the News Pack for 10.00 a month. Add-On channels are priced, like Showtime and Starz, are $10.oo. If CNN and MSNBC were available on an a la carte basis, they could be priced no higher than Showtime.

Dish provides the illusion of getting channels a la carte by showing an “A la carte” Appreciation Pack at $0.00 per month. The reasonable assumption is that the zero amounts would be increased to reflect charges for the channels a consumer wants.

It’s time the Federal Communications Commission or Congress directs the channel bundlers to unbundle the channels.

4 Lucrative Business Ideas for Sports Lovers

August 6, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Sports are something that can be enjoyed by anyone, both players and fans alike. Not everyone can be an athlete, but you can contribute to your favorite sport in a meaningful way as a business owner. The sports industry is huge and highly profitable, so there are many opportunities for you to consider. Some business ideas require high skill or high involvement, while others are accessible to anyone with a passion for sports. After getting an idea of what kind of businesses you might launch, you can break into the industry as a confident entrepreneur.

Team Agent

Starting your own sports agency empowers you to represent local teams and advocate for their long-term growth. As an agent, your primary task would likely be to negotiate contracts and secure endorsements.

Representing your team doesn’t have to be about negotiations or ironing out legal matters, though. Maybe your talents lie in improving strategies as a statistician or hosting fundraisers for team events. Every team also needs a dedicated marketing agent who can expand outreach and drive ticket sales.

Sports Therapist

If you are interested in pursuing an education in the medical field, you can become a valuable asset to any sports team as a physical therapist. A sports physical therapist uses knowledge of rehabilitative practices to help athletes recover from strains or injuries so they can get back to doing what they do best.

You can start this career path by earning a physical therapy degree while also studying sports medicine or other relevant topics. You will also need to receive the necessary certifications and a license to practice in your state. When you are ready to begin your practice, you might work with a specific sports team or launch a public clinic that is available to the community.

Sports Venue Lighting Engineer

Engineering is an oft-overlooked necessity in the world of sports. Specifically, lighting engineers fill a crucial role in ensuring that spectators and viewers at home have the best possible experience watching their teams compete.

Lighting up a sports stadium requires so much more than just shining a spotlight on the field. You can learn more about the architectural and scientific knowledge that goes into the lighting engineer trade by reviewing industry case studies on the subject. This will give you an idea of the lighting options for football stadiums and arenas of all sizes at each professional sports level.

Remote At-Home Jobs

One study projects that over 20% of Americans will work from home by 2025, and if you prefer the remote work environment for yourself as well, you can leverage your enthusiasm for sports to make it a reality. One way to earn a living while contributing to the sports community is as a content creator. You can launch your own sports content business and manage it from a home office or studio. Depending on your unique talents, you might choose one of these remote business options:

Freelance sports writer
Sports podcaster
Social media producer

There are many ways to enjoy a career in sports. Athletes, coaches, and stadium staff are not the only ones who keep the show going. If you have the drive to be an entrepreneur and the passion to contribute to your pastime, then starting a sports-based business might be the most fulfilling path for you.

Check out Local Marketing Center for more business and marketing insights.

This blog was written by Courtney Rosenfeld.

Email Hoaxes Are Rampant

July 31, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Two different types of hoaxes are constantly circulating on the
Internet. One is urban legends which usually are harmless,
except for wasting bandwidth because they are circulating via
ten of millions of messages.

Most do little more than tell a tall story that is not true but they instruct you to forward a copy
of the message to everybody in your address book. This of
course is how the bandwidth is wasted. Some are meant to
unnerve people & others do cost individuals & companies
money but these are rare.

The other common type of hoax is the fake virus scare messages that are also circulating by the
millions. These will often warn you to beware of a message
with a certain subject & if you receive it not to open it because
it will cause irreparable harm to your system. They always try
to convey a great sense of urgency to the receiver. They will
also instruct you to forward the warning message to
everybody in your address book. They try to convince the
receiver that by forwarding the message they are doing
everybody to whom they forward it a great service. Again
little harm is normally done except for the wasting of
bandwidth. The people who create these hoaxes no doubt
have a very good laugh knowing the huge number of
messages that will be sent for no valid reason creating much
bogus traffic on the Internet. There are at least 4 sites that
provide info on fake viruses & urban legends:

– Internet Tourbus, www.tourbus.com

– AFU & Urban Legends Archive, www.urbanlegends.com

– Network Associates, www.nai.com/services/support

– Symantec, www.symantec.com/avcenter/hoax.html

These sites can greatly aid in dispelling myths that surround
many bogus email messages found in cyberspace. When you
receive a message containing either an urban legend or virus
warning, do not forward it even if it came from a reliable
source. Chances are fairly good that it is a hoax.

Clicking on a malicious email attachment or a link to a phishing website can lead to a great deal of trouble and stress.

How to Set Up Your Own Successful Handyman Business

July 20, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Starting your own handyman business in the US could be a lucrative move – you could charge a respectable $50 to $80 per hour, according to HomeGuide. The work is challenging, interesting, only moderately physically demanding, and doesn’t need you to have an official education. Last, but not least, you could even get your own successful handyman business up and running and thereby be your own boss.

The Local Marketing Center explains everything you need to know about starting a successful handyman business below:

Pick a specialty

Handymen come in all shapes and sizes and do a lot more than general maintenance and repair. That’s why you must choose an area of specialization. It would help you to stand out, be pickier about clients, and thereby charge more for your services. Some services you could specialize in are drywall installation, smart home upgrades, painting, tile installation, and appliance repair. Ideally, this should be something you’re already good at.

Have a business plan

A business plan is like a blueprint for your business. It contains critical details about setting up shop, ranging from funding options and legalities to market research and business goals. With a good business plan, you can nail down exactly what you’ll be doing, who you’ll be doing it for, and how to be profitable.

Gather seed money

Seed money is startup capital. You can use your savings, borrow from family or friends, get a loan, or attempt to apply for a grant. Typically, it’s a good idea to have enough to set up and remain operational for the next 6 to 12 months, until you have a chance to stabilize. Depending on the nature and scope of your business, you can expect to spend $62 to $40,565, reports Starter Story.

Get insurance

You may or may not need insurance. Check your state or territory regulations to be sure. Getting insurance just to be safe isn’t always advisable because it’s not cheap and will significantly eat into your profit margin. You should opt-in if your customers need it or you do risky work.

Licenses, training, and other legalities

There are several legalities to adhere to. You will need an Employer Identification Number (EIN). You, typically, need to register in the local chamber of commerce. Depending on your region, you may need a contractor or handyman license. Finally, it’s a good idea to form an LLC or similar corporation to protect your personal assets from lawsuits. You don’t need formal training to be a handyman – people typically take up apprenticeships or teach themselves.

Consider special equipment

You will need special equipment, depending on the work you’re doing. At the very least, expect to need hand tools, a drilling machine, and a storage box. If you do specialized work, you may need ladders, safety tools, chainsaws, plumbing tools, and more. Free Business Ideas offers a reference list of handyman tools.

Make your life easier with software

Using apps will allow you to automate tasks and save time. For instance, map apps will help you find your clients’ locations quickly and note-taking apps will help you jot down pertinent details. You may need construction estimating software to run your business. This kind of software allows you to calculate material and labor costs, create a schedule for payments for customers, send estimates from job sites conveniently, and send automated reminders through email if a sent estimate hasn’t been approved.

Market for success

Marketing is critical. You need to make your handyman business discoverable through marketing-related efforts. Some ideas are having a business card, setting up a website, registering your business in relevant listings, joining the local chamber of commerce, printing flyers, advertising online, and advertising offline.

Marketing your handyman business on Instagram can be a great way to reach new customers and grow your business. To get started, you’ll need to create an account and start sharing photos and videos of your work. Be sure to use hashtags to reach a wider audience, and don’t forget to tag potential customers in your posts. You can also use this free Instagram story template to give your followers a behind-the-scenes look at your business. Build your story design by choosing a template and adding your own images, graphics, and icons.

Network for multiple reasons

Don’t forget to network. Networking raises your profile; helps you find useful connections like customers and mentors; works as free marketing; and allows you to build a safety net in your local community. Becoming a member of your chamber of commerce is a good way to get started.

Conclusion

While having a handyman business can be challenging and may come at the cost of job security, the advantages may balance it out. Some examples are setting your own schedule, earning a good income, and varied work. Remember to work hard, stay committed, develop your entrepreneurial brain, and market your business to be successful long-term!

This blog was contributed by Courtney Rosenfeld

Image via Unsplash

The Easy Guide to Employee Performance Planning

July 15, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Performance planning is a great way to give a sense of direction to the employees and create a space for them to grow in their career. In this guide, we will discuss what is performance planning and the process.

Some useful templates are also provided. You can edit these online; simply click on the template to open them in the editor, modify and download.

What is Performance Planning?

Employee performance planning is a key area in performance management, which deals with improving and developing employee performance to achieve overall business goals.

Performance planning refers to the process of identifying the goals of an individual or organization and planning the best ways to achieve them. It focuses on underpinning the growth of employees and helping their career development.

During performance planning, the company objectives and the performance goals should be communicated to the employee by his senior. And the necessary training, resources, and support should also be provided.

A performance improvement plan lays out the steps an employee, who is underperforming, needs to take to upgrade his or her performance.

On the other hand, a performance development plan is used with employees who are already performing well to identify new ways they can contribute. With underperforming employees, it can be used to identify areas for improvement, set goals and develop strategies to achieve them.

Here are some great team building activities to help you boost your team’s productivity.

Performance Planning Process

Following are the performance planning steps. Performance planning is the first step in performance management. Once you are done with planning, you will move on to implementing it, tracking and reviewing the results.

Identify the Strengths of Each Individual

Start by learning the capabilities of your employees, which will, in turn, help you adjust their responsibilities and customize performance goals.

A handy tool that can be used here is the SWOT analysis. You can either perform a SWOT analysis of each individual working under you or get your team to do a personal SWOT analysis by their own.

The results will reveal to you not only the strengths of the individual, but also their weaknesses, and the opportunities and threats with regard to their career.

Personal SWOT Analysis Template (Click on the template to edit it online)

Set Performance Goals

Considering his or her strength, establish performance goals. Involve the employee during this step; their participation will help them understand the plan and where he/ she is heading.

However, prior to setting the goals, you need to gain an understanding of the overall goals of the organization, and that of the team or department the employee represents. Then make sure that the individual performance goals align well with them.

You also need to make sure that the goals adhere to the SMART criteria; that they are specific, measurable, attainable, realistic and timely.

Carry out an annual or semi-annual performance evaluation to understand the progress of the goals. For this, you should come up with a simple rating scale or indicators to assess the performance.

Career Plan Template (Click on the template to edit it online)

Define Employee Responsibilities

When you have already established the goals an individual has to achieve within the time period, it becomes easier to define their responsibilities. With a performance review, their responsibilities may change, but they’ll always be assigned a basic set of functions.

Create an organizational chart clearly conveying their place in the organizational or team hierarchy and their roles and responsibilities. This will also let them see how they influence the work of their colleagues as well.

Organizational Chart with Roles and Responsibilities (Click on the template to edit it online)

Describe the Resources Needed

Once the performance goals are clear, identify the resources necessary to accomplish them. These could vary from computers, training material to action plans.

The action plan should lay out the steps the individual should take to accomplish the goals. Check out this resource on Action Plans to learn how to create one.

Action Plan Template (Click on the template to edit it online)

Create a Development Plan

This is where you come up with a plan or plans to develop the skills, knowledge and even the attitudes of the employees which are needed to achieve the goals that have been set and carry out the new responsibilities assigned to him/ her.

During this stage, career development plans are built to help the employee understand where they are headed in their career. It will have a positive impact on the employee’s motivation and personal growth.

Software Engineer Career Path (Click on the template to edit it online)

Continue to Coach and Counsel

As the employee carry out his/ her responsibilities and the steps laid out in the action plan to achieve the goals, his/her seniors should take it upon themselves to give the support necessary for him/ her to succeed.

Two tools that can help you during this phase are the GROW coaching model and the skill will matrix.

What’s Your Take on Performance Planning?

How do you go about performance planning in your organization? Any additional steps or tips? Do share them with us in the comment section below.