Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2024 - 47

STRATEGIES
EMPOWERING PERFORMANCE EXCELLENCE:
CRAFTING REVIEWS THAT INSPIRE AND
DRIVE RESULTS
BY MICKEY FITCH-COLLINS, PH.D.
Why do supervisors dread writing
performance reviews? Often seen as
a necessary but difficult part of the
organizational landscape, performance
reviews are pivotal to employee growth
and organizational success. These
discussions
and their
accompanying
documentation are far more than a
formality - they are an opportunity
to inspire and empower your teams.
Focusing on engagement and motivation
in the written portion can unlock your
employees' potential and create an
experience you and they enjoy more.
THE SIGNIFICANCE OF FOCUSING
ON ENGAGEMENT AND MOTIVATION
IN WRITTEN REVIEWS
Situated at a crossroads where the
past and future meet, performance
reviews provide an occasion to reflect
on past accomplishments and chart
a course
toward
future
goals and
professional growth. They're a unique
opportunity to catalyze organizational
success by focusing on engagement
(an employee's commitment to their
work and organization) and motivation
(the driving force behind employee
behavior and effort). Priming the pump
of engagement and motivation in a
performance review's written document
opens the floodgate to fully interactive
performance review conversations.
Here's why this is significant:
* Improved employee performance:
Writing reviews that are both constructive
and encouraging engenders better
performance reviews. This, in turn,
leads to increased performance and
productivity. Motivated employees
are driven to excel, and engaged
employees are more invested in
their organization's success.
* Enhanced employee engagement
and retention: When employees
feel valued and recognized for their
contributions, they are more likely
to feel connected to their work
and the organization. This leads
to improved retention rates, as
employees are more likely to stay
in a company that invests in their
growth and development.
* Enhanced leadership skills: Learning
to write inspiring performance
reviews can also develop leadership
abilities. By understanding the
impact of feedback and recognition
on employee motivation, leaders can
better guide their teams, improve
team dynamics and cultivate a
positive work culture.
* Increased professional development:
Crafting meaningful written performance
reviews that include specific
performance and professional
development goals drives employees'
personal growth. When employees
see a clear path for their development
within the organization, they are more
likely to be proactive in enhancing
their skills and capabilities.
AN ENGAGING
AND MOTIVATING
PERFORMANCE
REVIEW IS A
DETAILED ONE.
* Strengthened feedback culture: Focusing
on the art of constructive feedback
and positive language fosters a culture
of open, transparent communication
and continuous improvement within an
organization. Managers and employees
who understand how to deliver written
feedback effectively create a safe and
supportive environment for ongoing
discussions about performance
and development.
TRAINING INDUSTRY MAGAZINE - WINTER 2024 I WWW.TRAININGINDUSTRY.COM/MAGAZINE
* Adoption of performance management
technology: Leveraging technology
for performance excellence
drives organizations to adopt
performance management software
and data analytics tools. These
technologies can streamline the
review process, provide valuable
insights and facilitate continuous
feedback and coaching throughout a
year-long cycle.
* Alignment with L&D initiatives:
Empowering performance excellence
aligns well with learning and
development initiatives. Organizations
may integrate performance reviews
into broader training programs,
emphasizing the importance of
feedback and coaching as integral
components of employee growth.
47
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Training Industry Magazine - Winter 2024

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