Staff appraisals

Performance appraisals are essential for the effective management and evaluation of staff

Appraisals help develop individuals, improve organizational performance, and feed into business planning. Appraisals, if carried out at all, are generally conducted annually for all staff in an organization. Each staff member is appraised by their line manager. Directors are appraised by the CEO, who is appraised by the chairman or company owners, depending on the size and structure of the organization. However, with SME's this can prove to be unproductive as staff of smaller companies feel more intimidated by the process than in larger, less personal organisations. The benefits to the business owner of having The IBA undertake staff appraisals are many and include:

Improves staff morale, attitude and behaviour
Helps you acquire information
Standards, expectation s and objectives established
Reveals training needs
Solves personal disputes
Relevant to pay and grading reviews, business planning
Helps you understand your staff
Increases communication and positive relationship between management and staff
Staff perceive the process as being impartial

Performance appraisals provide a formal, recorded, regular review of an individual's performance, and a plan for future development. Job performance appraisals - in whatever form they take - are therefore vital for managing the performance of people and organizations.

Managers and appraisees commonly dislike appraisals and try to avoid them. To these people the appraisal is daunting and time-consuming. The process is seen as a difficult administrative chore and emotionally challenging. The annual appraisal is maybe the only time since last year that the two people have sat down together for a meaningful one-to-one discussion. No wonder then that appraisals are stressful - which then defeats the whole purpose. There lies the main problem - and the remedy.

Appraisals are much easier, and especially more relaxed, if an appraiser from The IBA meets each of the team members individually for a one-to-one discussion. Our approach is to have a meaningful meeting , with ALL members of the company, about work, career, aims, progress, development, hopes and dreams, life, the universe, the TV, common interests, etc., whatever - making appraisals much easier because people then know and trust each other - which reduces the stress and uncertainty associated with such meetings. Putting off discussions can lead to trouble later. If you are a boss who rarely sits down and talks with people - or whose people are not used to talking with you - then the presence of an IBA Appraiser can relax the atmosphere and improve relationships. Appraisals (and work) all tend to be easier when people communicate well and know each other.

It is helpful for the staff to see that the business owner is part of the process and being treated the same as them. When the actual formal appraisals are due everyone will find the whole process to be far more natural, quick, and easy - and a lot more productive too.

Fee: £100 + VAT per person (plus travel expense at cost)

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