2020 was a rollercoaster. Given the COVID-19 crisis, the election year, and the day-to-day stresses that come with work and regular life outside of adapting to our new ways of life in these ever-changing times, you can expect to see a lot people looking forward to starting fresh next year and achieving higher goals than the year they left behind. As an employer and an employee, it’s imperative that you support each other in these new endeavors during this time.
Nurturing and Communication
With the stresses of today, it is imperative that everyone does their best to avoid burnout. Burnout is a psychological condition resulting from chronic, work-related stress.[1] Burnout in an employee can result in loss of productivity and can be detrimental, if not infectious, to the remaining staff.
Per usual, communication is key. Know that a healthy workspace culture stems from healthy and honest feedback between all levels at an organization. This healthy and honest communication comes forth only in the presence of a safe work environment. [2] A safe environment is one where an employee can comfortably give honest feedback without fearing retaliation for doing so. Especially from higher-ups.
It is also important to be honest with yourself and your staff. Is the environment that you provide your employees beneficial to their personal and business development? Are they able to separate the two? Is the work stressful? If so, have there been adequate measures to alleviate this stress? Take some time to survey the employees, gather opinions from the employees on the floor, and apply what you learn into developing solutions for a comfortable workplace.
Tracking and Organization
The key to targeting your goals and hitting said target is organization. A proper strategy will only be its most effective under a structured system.
What does organization look like when setting goals? Tracking. How else will you know what you’re trying to reach, or the steps taken to get there? Having a proper method of tracking progress is proprietary to gaining success in any performance management system. Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) are what you should be monitoring and analyzing. You need to be able to sit down and demarcate any progress, or lack thereof, on the route to achieving business goals.
When discussing KPIs, start to define goals using the SMART[3] system. SMART stands for:
S- Specific: Define what you want to achieve.
M- Measurable: Progress able to be tracked by milestones.
A- Achievable: Realistically attainable goals.
R- Relevant: Aligned with your values and larger goals.
T- Time-based: An appropriate time frame to complete your task.
This method provides a framework for understanding what it is you aim to achieve. It can also be communicated across the board and potentially standardized as a roadmap for success within your company.
Keep It Up to Date
Due to these unprecedented times, many goals and ideals for businesses have shifted. Now is the time to review your business model to address revamping processes pre-COVID and areas for improvement, such as technology upgrades.
Have an honest discussion with your organization and learn of the ways you can adapt. The ability to adapt will not only impact your staff but indicates your business can perform even when things aren’t so certain.
At AccessPoint we specialize in providing industry-specific best practices. If you’re looking to improve your performance review process, consult an HR management Specialist at AccessPoint.
Sources:
Harvard Health Publishing
NCBI
Forbes