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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.

Design Your Dream Work From Home Space on a Budget

March 7, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Millions of workers across the United States aren’t going back to the office, and it’s easy to see why. Even with the pandemic winding down, employers are still reaping the benefits: a happier and more motivated workforce, reduced operating expenses, and fewer hours lost to water cooler chat.

So if you’ll be working remotely full- or part-time, it’s time to ditch the couch or dining room table and build your dream workspace at home, using these expert tips from Local Marketing Center.

Choose the Right Location

Start by taking a tour of your home as though you’ve never been there before. Walk through each space and imagine it without furniture. Where can you add a workspace? If your home has a basement, this may be the obvious choice. Basements are usually isolated from the rest of the house, so if the kids come home from school, they won’t disrupt your Zoom meeting.

To DIY or Not to DIY?

If you’re looking to cut costs, a DIY home office renovation might seem like the best bet. But consider your starting point first. A finished basement already has the basic flooring, drywall, and electrical you’ll need for a safe and comfortable office. You may only need to add a fresh coat of paint in a soothing hue. But an unfinished basement is trickier. Case in point: you’ll need to install subfloor insulation before the carpeting to prevent condensation and mold. These larger tasks are often best left to a pro. Otherwise, you could pay more for repairs down the line.

Wellness While You Work

Next, it’s time to add furniture. Choose a high-quality, comfortable desk and ergonomic chair that are suited to your height. Head to your favorite secondhand shop or look online for affordable options. You may want to consider an adjustable sit-stand desk to switch things up throughout the day. In either position, ensure that your monitor is at the proper distance and viewing angle to reduce eyestrain.

Hack Your Productivity

Now that the heavy lifting is done, it’s time to stimulate your creativity and get you in the zone. Add a smart speaker for some relaxing tunes or white noise. (Unlike the office, you won’t need to wear headphones!) Did you know that certain scents, especially pine and cinnamon, have been associated with alertness and focus? Light a scented candle or use a plug-in oil diffuser for a boost.

Add Self-Care to Your Workspace

You spend more of your waking hours at your workstation than almost anywhere else. As you put the finishing touches on your new home office, take another tour of your home and gather items that help facilitate a feeling of peace and joy. It could be a houseplant, a family photo, a lamp to add brightness, or a yoga mat for a comfy place to stretch and reset between tasks. These items will truly help you feel like you’re working from the comfort of home and enhance your work-life balance. Best of all, they don’t cost you a cent!

Everyone longs to escape those stuffy office buildings, but few take the necessary steps to turn that dream into a reality. By following these simple tips, though, you’ll be enjoying your new home office in no time!

Local Marketing Center consists of Paul and his wife, Sarah Edwards, who are award-winning authors of 17 books with over 2,000,000 books in print. Paul also provides local marketing consulting through the Small Business Development Center. If you have any questions, don’t hesitate to email paul@localmarketing.center.

Written by Courtney Rosenfeld

4 Ideas for Improving Collaboration in the Workspace

February 3, 2022 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

When it comes to meeting business goals, collaboration is key. As employees work in sync, it becomes easier to share information, overcome challenges and avoid bottlenecks. Additionally, it helps to improve morale and create a positive work environment. But, having seamless collaboration throughout an organization requires sound planning and consistent effort. In this article, Local Marketing Center explores four tried and tested ways to help your business achieve the highest level of collaboration possible.

Lead from the Top

As the business owner, you cannot expect your team to be collaborative if you work in isolation. Rather than allowing employees to work in their silos, create a culture where employees collaboratively work on projects. Additionally, when it comes to making decisions, organize discussions with appropriate teams, receive suggestions, and move forward with mutually agreed upon goals and timelines. There will be times when you’ll need to put your foot down and instruct your team to work based on your expectations, but in the long run, a collaborative effort will help employees feel empowered and develop good critical thinking skills.

Develop a Culture of Innovation

Managers often want employees to come up with creative solutions to business problems, however, their imagination is stunted due to traditional top-down structures of communication. If employees are hesitant of presenting ideas due to the fear of being ridiculed or judged, it is bound to impair the success of your business. To overcome such situations, practice an open-door policy, i.e. encourage employees to connect with their managers or you directly with ideas or concerns. To make this system successful, it’s important to:

Be receptive to new ideas which could alter your current business practices.

Train managers across all departments to develop the same attitude as well.

This approach will help you gauge how well your business is doing in terms of collaboration. If employees seem unaware of the progress of other departments, it points towards the need for stronger communication. Similarly, if you realize you’re out of touch with updates team members are providing on projects, it’s time to start actively communicating with your employees more often.

Encourage Cross-Department Collaborations

A common problem faced by businesses is poor cross-department communication. For example, let’s say the product team launches a new service on the platform to attract more customers. But, as the marketing team was not aware of the launch, there was no promotional activity and the project eventually was considered a failure. Not only do such situations lead to wastage of precious time, money, and resources, but can also lead to a business going under if it occurred consistently.

As reported by Idealist, an effective way to overcome this problem is to create cross-departmental teams, i.e. choosing representatives from each department to work on the project. As all members will be mutually dependent on the other to achieve goals, it’ll encourage communication and lead to everyone being on the same page.

Adopt the Right Technology

Whether you have 10 employees or 100, it is not possible to keep a check on them individually. Business goals are often dynamic and employees need to be proactive in their approach and adapt quickly to ensure projects are completed on time. Additionally, relaying the required changes verbally or through mails can lead to loss of information and time.

Here’s where process mapping comes into the picture. As reported by Miro, a process map allows you to break down each project into stages which can include required deliverables and project owners. Additionally, as the map can easily be shared with everyone in the organization, it promotes cross-departmental communication by providing complete clarity of expectations and timelines.

Using the process map, managers can track the progress of tasks at any time and make necessary changes as needed. Furthermore, as the owner, it’ll provide you an overview of your business in real-time allowing you to maintain operational efficiency and ensure completion of set goals.

By implementing these strategies in your business, you’re bound to experience an increase in productivity. Additionally, you’ll create a work environment where employees feel heard and respected, making it easier to retain and attract top talent.

Written by Courtney Rosenfeld

3 Ways to Expand Your Knowledge for Better Community Leadership

June 2, 2021 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

As a leader in your community, lifelong learning is crucial. And by furthering your education, volunteering with a local nonprofit organization, and taking steps to strengthen your leadership skills, you can become the effective leader your community members need and rely on. These resources from Paul & Sarah Edwards will help you to do it!

Further Your Education

Effective leadership and lifelong learning go hand-in-hand.

Discover the benefits of lifelong learning, especially as a leader in the community.
Earn a degree in public management and leadership to become a better leader in the public or private sector.
Become a leader in business by enrolling in an online business degree program.
If you lack time for a dedicated pursuit, consider podcasts that will further your knowledge.

Volunteer in the Community

Volunteering teaches you important skills in empathy, self-awareness, and self-regulation — helping you to become a more well-rounded leader in the community.

Explore the many benefits of volunteering in the community.
Find a volunteer opportunity that fits your skill set, hobbies, and passions.
Try one of these three career-boosting volunteer opportunities recommended by Forbes.

Improve Your Leadership Skills

Most leadership skills can be taught, learned, and improved on if you’re motivated to succeed.

Find out what makes an exceptional leader in the community.
Take some time to understand your leadership style.
Identify your weaknesses and start improving your leadership skills in just four steps.
Read the 10 best leadership books of 2020.

To be a great leader in the community, it’s important to challenge yourself as much as possible — and never stop taking in new information. Whether you’re learning from other leaders and followers, furthering your college education, or volunteering in the community, you’ll be expanding your knowledge for better community leadership!

This blog was written by Courtney Rosenfeld

Is it Time Take More Control of Your Time and Life by Moving Your Business or Home?

September 2, 2013 by Paul Edwards Leave a Comment

Are rising costs and an uncertain economy causing your to think this is a time in your life to free yourself of some of the hassles of maintaining a business or store front business? Perhaps you want to save time and with the increasing use of smart phones and tablets, is it important where you base your business? So why not cut your costs by moving your office into your home? While of course not all businesses have this choice, many do and the financial benefits for increasing profit on decreased revenue are great.

You can reduce or eliminate the cost of:

Office or store rental: Instead of paying rent, you can get a tax deduction for your office space.
Commuting: Auto expenses drop dramatically when you can walk to your office in seconds.
Business-related travel to and from your home becomes deductible too.
Food: coffee breaks and lunches are far less expensive at home.
Insurance: Riders or endorsements to your homeowner insurance policies cost less.
Child care: While you may still need some, it will certainly be less when working from home
Personnel: You should have no difficulty becoming a virtual company with your personnel gladly working from their homes. A newly published study by Stanford University found 51% of employees wanting to work from home and a 2009 JobNet survey found that over 70% of employees report willing or wanting to work from home.
Taxes: Additional possible deductions include a portion of homeowners dues and fees and real estate taxes (which can lower your “below-the-line” taxable income), furniture converted to business use, and a portion of the cost of entertaining business associates at home.

By keeping such costs down you can increase profits without raising prices. In fact, many companies shifting to a home-base find they can even lower prices while maintaining or even increasing profits. People who have moved their home office to an office outside the home tell us it takes 2.5 to 3 times the gross income to produce the same net income they were making when working from home.

Fortunately there is no longer a stigma attached to working from home. In fact it’s considered chic these days, especially considering it’s so very eco-friendly, a definite plus in the mind of many clients and customers.

And there’s a bonus above and beyond the bottom line: increased personal satisfaction. Repeated surveys over the years show that better than nine of ten of those who are home-based report they are happier working from home and would recommend it to others. Their reasons are many: more control over their time, more time with family, greater flexibility to balance home and work, a more relaxed environment, and more time to be involved with their local community or personal interests outside of work.

Comments and questions on the substance of this blogs are welcome. If you have other questions about this website, please contact me directly for a consulting appointment.

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Adapted from our Costco Connection column from July, 2009