The 3 Keys To Successful Performance Management

The 3 Keys To Successful Performance Management Let’s be honest: nobody likes traditional performance reviews. Managers hate trying to find time in their schedules to give employees a year’s worth of feedback. Employees dread having to hear a laundry list of mistakes they’ve made. In the end, both parties leave the meeting feeling it was less than productive. It’s time to stop thinking of performance management as a necessary evil. The first step to doing that is getting everyone on the same page about the purpose of performance reviews. Unfortunately, as a recent survey from my company, Quantum Workplace, found, there is little agreement about performance management. In fact, just 45.4 percent of managers think that performance reviews are effective at motivating employees. And as our infographic below shows, that’s just the beginning of the problems with traditional performance management. In order to get a better understanding of how managers can better provide feedback to employees, let’s break down the basics of performance management: 1. The basics The  survey revealed something shocking: only 14.4 percent of individual contributors know how their performance is measured. When it comes to the very basics of performance management, there’s already confusion. And that does not bode well for the process as a whole. Without a clear understanding about how performance is judged, all feedback lacks context. A manager can tell an employee that their communication skills need work, but unless everyone is on the same page about the performance criteria, the employee won’t know how to apply that feedback. Encourage managers to start each review with a reminder of how performance is evaluated and what they are looking for from each employee. Leave time for employees to ask questions so they can clarify any expectations that seem vague to them. 2. Frequency For decades, performance management has been considered a once a year event. The annual review ruled the roost. But that leaves employees wanting more frequent feedback. The survey found that only 8.9 percent of employees find annual reviews to be the most effective way for managers to touch base with them. Almost half (49 percent) of employees would prefer to discuss their performance on a monthly or quarterly basis. By giving employees feedback more frequently, managers can make the process more digestible. When you try to cram 12 month’s worth of suggestions into a half hour, things fall through the cracks. Managers need to pick and choose what type of feedback they provide, giving employees a less than complete picture of their performance. Some of their successes will go unrecognized and some of their chances to improve, overlooked. Instead, schedule regular performance discussions. Have an agenda that allows enough time for an in-depth conversation about how the employee is doing and what they still need to work on. And know that more frequent reviews will improve overall performance management. Our survey found that 60.7 percent of employees and 81.6 percent of managers believe performance would be better if it was discussed more than once a year. 3. Sources of feedback In theory, managers should have a good perspective on how each of their employees are doing. But in reality, they can’t spend every moment of their day observing or interacting with each individual. If they’re the only source of feedback for employees, than they are only seeing part of the picture. Co-workers, however, spend more time working side-by-side on a daily basis. They’re in the trenches together. They see who’s contributing and in what ways, so including their feedback provides valuable information for individuals. Managers understand the importance of peer feedback 73.4 percent said it was beneficial for performance management. By making it a formal part of the process, they’ll know the best way to incorporate it in their regular employee reviews. Develop a survey for co-workers that focuses on teamwork and what part each individual plays in overall success. This will highlight factors managers are missing or viewing differently about an employee’s performance. With that extra information, they can give better, more complete feedback. How a company handles performance management can make or break their chance at success. But for the process to work, everyone needs to understand the purpose of providing feedback. That means getting managers and employees on the same page about expectations so everyone has a complete picture of what’s going on. About the author:  Natalie Hackbarth is the Inbound Marketing Manager of Quantum Workplace, a company dedicated to providing every organization with quality engagement tools that guide their next step in making work better every day. You can connect with Natalie and the Quantum Workplace team on LinkedIn, Twitter, and Facebook.

Why Hire a Resume Writing Service?

Why Hire a Resume Writing Service?When a company is looking for someone to apply for a new position, they will often hire resume writing service for help in guiding a person through the entire process. The client has several options available to them in order to make sure they find the right fit.A professional resume writer can help guide the job-seeker through the written and interview process. In most cases, a professional resume writing service will also go to the candidate's campus to give them feedback on their accomplishments. They will also help the candidate in developing a set of goals and questions to ask themselves as they prepare for the interview.Some companies will offer free services that a person can take advantage of. They will provide their resume and cover letter templates, and the person will be able to design the content that goes along with each template. They will provide sample resumes and cover letters in many different formats, so the client can choose what type of paper they would like to use.The actual printing of the candidate's resume and cover letter will be handled by the company's printers. The resume writer will receive the completed copy as well as samples of various papers they could use to present their case. Most of these services do not charge anything unless it is required by law. The person will be able to pick and choose what type of paper they want to use according to their preferences.Another benefit to hiring resume writing service is that they are able to get the word out about the resume and cover letter that a person is submitting. If the person is chosen to be interviewed, they will also get an email or phone call alerting them that they have been invited to an interview. This allows them to prepare ahead of time to ensure that they are presentable, relaxed, and ready to interview.It is a very easy process for someone to hire a resume writing service. They will need to provide a list of their resume and cover let ter templates. They can then select a list of samples they would like to have printed and sent to them.The person can choose how long they want the material to take, and they will be able to download the material to a disk and create the material in a certain way that will appeal to the employers. Once a person hires a professional resume writing service, they can feel confident that they will always be on top of the job market. They will be able to present a persuasive resume to the employers, and any employer will be more than happy to accept the proposal from a talented resume writer.Resume writing service provides a person with the ability to be prepared and ready to present the best possible side of themselves to the employer. This gives the job-seeker a competitive edge when applying for a new position.

Personal Brands Delivering on the Brand Promise - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career

Personal Brands Delivering on the Brand Promise - Personal Branding Blog - Stand Out In Your Career Being on the other end of the phone when dealing with customer service representatives, is either a curse or a blessing.  It’s a coin toss. One that quickly became a curse when I had to speak to a Wacom customer service rep. Many large company brands are striving hard for that “human engagement”. It’s evident in the increased social activities, social listening, brand responses and response time. Part of the reason I thoroughly enjoy working with small businesses is because they have the agility to be (and remember to be) human in their daily interactions. The personal brand lesson today is if you work with a large company don’t lose your humanness. [tweet this] The goal of understanding your personal brand is so that you can be confident in delivering on the corporate brand promise in a way that aligns with who you are. Your actions then are delivered and received as genuine and authentic. Yesterday, I experienced that dreaded Customer Service Rep (CSR) with Wacom who was reciting a script. One that he couldn’t, or wouldn’t, deviate from. He methodically drudged through it in a cadence only a smidgeon more human that the electronic robotic voice that could have been programmed to say the same thing. The helpless brand We all have been in a job where it doesn’t support our personality style. The script is demanded and mandatory.   I get it. There are those jobs when it is efficiency and not effectiveness that’s measured and rewarded. I’ll tell you another story where I was speaking with a Sprint Representative. With Sprint, it’s always a coin toss yet I do admit it’s been more positive than negative with their phone reps (it’s not at all the same at the local store level). She had a script or outline to follow, too, but she was human about it.   She laughed with me and would say things like “I know this seems redundant but we’ll go through this checklist as fast as we can and we’ll both be happier because of it.”   Instead of feeling that I had a human version of a robot, I felt like I was speaking to another hard working soul at the other end of the line. She delivered on the corporate brand promise in a style that was aligned with who she is. And, being on the receiving end of that was delightful! In Denise Lee Yohn’s book, What Great Brands Do, she shares that: Employees who are engaged with the brand who understand what they uniquely and how they uniquely deliver to the brand ultimately connect to the brand’s higher purpose and find that their work holds more meaning and importance to them because they see their own roles in the broader mission of the organization. For companies, take heed â€" are you taking the human side out of your brand’s interaction? Is your personal brand sleeping with the fishes? In a BRANDchat conversation, we extensively discussed Lessons from the Death of a Brand. One of the great tweetables from that discussion was: Brands often decline because of management, leadership and employees coming up with excuses rather than acting with integrity. If you don’t have integrity to your own personal brand, what do you have then? What do you do if you’re stuck in a company that doesn’t get it?   Take a look at the list I shared on Monday’s posts about what to do if you are in bad company.

What are you Thankful for at Work

What are you Thankful for at Work My stomach is already growling for tomorrow’s big Thanksgiving Feast!   I know it’s a bit cliché, but I can’t go through this week without a posting something about gratitude.     I am obsessed with this time of year.   I love that even the busiest and most successful business people take a minute to appreciate the little things in life.   I always count my blessings more than usual around this time of year and am reminded of how much I love my family and our traditions.     In today’s turbulent economy, many American’s will be adding their job to their list of things to be thankful for this year.   According to a  New York Times article, the unemployment rate as of October 2008 hit a 14-year high of 6.5%.   The article says that the trend is expected to continue through next year, with unemployment rates expected to hit 8% by the middle of next year.     With that being said, I feel it is important to take a minute to think about what you are thankful for at work.   A lot of my posts have discussed the icky and negative  side of corporate America, and the difficulties of transitioning from college into the “real world.”   The truth is, the landscape has changed a lot in the past few years and therefore our perspectives need to change as well.   The days of graduating college with 5 shiny offers to choose from rarely exists anymore, so we should appreciate the job we have.   Yes, work is work.    It can be a stressful grind sometimes, but-  what are the great things about what you do?     For example, I love my wonderful clients and the great people I work with/for.   Im blessed to have  a steady paycheck that affords me to live in Chicago.   I’m thankful for my health insurance, my flex spending account, and how close I live to my office.   I get to learn a lot about different types of businesses, and how different entrepreneurs choose to run their entities.   I’m also challenged to be more detail and procedure oriented than I would normally be, which is probably a good thing for my “ADHD!” Take a minute to be thankful for your job and where you are.   You  have the luxury of  being employed this year, while many Americans are spending this  Thanksgiving jobless.   Even if youre not quite in your dream role (YET!) weather the storm,  appreciate the moment and realize that this is just one leg of your career journey!

Writing an Aviation Resume

Writing an Aviation ResumeIf you are preparing to write an aviation resume, here are some tips for you. The information in this article will be able to help you on the field of selection of the resume you will present to prospective employers in the air.You must consider the fact that the first thing that will be noticed by a potential employer when he reads your aviation resume is your skills as a pilot. In any case, a good resume should also contain the details of your flying experience. But the practical information of your flying experiences are not enough to attract the attention of a potential employer.Aviation Resumes must also tell about all the accomplishments in each job you have had, and must also include the ones which do not involve the aviation field. What are the qualities that you should possess if you want to build up your flying career?First of all, it is important to include the quality information in your resume. The information you provide must consist of detaile d background information on all your aviation related job. A pilot with no prior history in aviation jobs is hardly likely to impress a company hiring for his/her pilot position.Most of the information you present in your aviation resumes must be related to the specific company you are applying for the job. Of course, you will also need to state that what qualifications you have to possess in order to serve the company in its requirements. Most of the information provided to a company in the form of resumes is in the form of personal experiences.As a matter of fact, these are the most common experience that a person has had and have been able to share with a company during an interview. But in order to present yourself in the best possible light, you must avoid expressing the negative feelings that you may be feeling about the company. Being very honest is also very important in your resume so that the employer will be able to see that you can do the job in a better way.If you are g oing to be a successful candidate, you should have an amount of professionalism in terms of your letter of application. You should express yourself as a hard working person who cares about the company you are applying for. This type of information will help you in your aviation resume.These tips for writing a good aviation resume can be a help to you. As a matter of fact, it will allow you to come up with the correct information in order to complete the application you will present to the company. So remember, when writing an aviation resume, it is not sufficient just to present your skills and experience but it is also important to present your character as well.

The ultimate feel good playlist, and the science of happy listening - Debut

The ultimate feel good playlist, and the science of happy listening - Debut This piece was written by an external contributor. Check out Jacob Turners handpicked feel good playlist and the science behind it below: It’s a truth universally acknowledged that a great song can turn a bad day right around. More than two thirds of us like listening to music when we’re feeling down, which is wise as a recent study showed that listening to music naturally releases dopamine. This awesome chemical is mostly associated with reward-motivated behaviour, and is key to making us feel great. But it’s not just about dancing around your room like a madman, music has also become a key part of a good study session, and most workplaces. Where a task is clearly defined or repetitive music can consistently increase focus. Equally in what is often a noisy environment music can offer an escape. Top Tips Bearing all this in mind there are two key ways to really boost your focus when listening as you work. Firstly ambient sounds and avoiding songs with too many lyrics can help you focus, and avoid distraction. This doesn’t mean sitting and listening to classical music though, film and game soundtracks are great to listen to too. A bit of Lord of the Rings or anything by Hans Zimmer I find can go a long way. Secondly and most importantly it’s really familiarity that’s key to productivity; stopping your brain from getting distracted and thinking too hard about what sounds may come next. Now you’ve got a scientific reason to turn the music up, sit back, relax and sing along. With that in mind here’s an ultimate playlist of guilty pleasures to get you started and feeling great ?? Feature image © Rachel via mindbodywise.com Download the Debut app and get connected with top graduate employers in an instant! Follow Jacob on Twitter @jacobtdare Connect with Debut on Facebook and Twitter

Meet a guru is in the media - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog

Meet a guru is in the media - The Chief Happiness Officer Blog I talked to a journalist from Berlingske (a major danish newspaper) yesterday, who was very excited about the top-executives-meet-a-guru event Im setting up. She wrote this excellent piece about it (in danish). Thanks for visiting my blog. If you're new here, you should check out this list of my 10 most popular articles. And if you want more great tips and ideas you should check out our newsletter about happiness at work. It's great and it's free :-)Share this:LinkedInFacebookTwitterRedditPinterest Related

The 5 Most Effective Job Search Strategies

The 5 Most Effective Job Search Strategies Professional resume writers can help get you hired. Searching for a new job doesn’t have to be as difficult as some people make it. Although it may seem like staying at your current job is easier than looking for another one, you owe it to yourself to continue to seek new opportunities and develop throughout your career. When you are ready to make the leap into a new job opportunity, many  professional resume writers  recommend taking these steps. Know Yourself C-level executive jobs are especially competitive. Your prospective employers not only want to know you can do the job well, but also feel you will fit into their company culture. Before you start your search,  take an inventory of your skills and unique characteristics. Add these to your resume’s  executive biography  and be prepared to show off what makes you you! Narrow Your Focus One of the main reasons employers hire another candidate is because while you may fit a few of their skill requirements, you may not fit all of them. If you want to write a  resume that gets you hired, make sure you thoroughly tailor it to the job description on the employer’s listing. Proactive vs. Reactive When it comes to a job search, good things don’t come to those who wait. You cannot simply send out thousands of resumes and wait for a company to bite. Professional resume writers suggest proactively contacting employers and always continuing to develop your skills. Investigate Digging up info on each company you apply to can help you write a resume that gets you hired. If you know the company encourages volunteer work, you can add yours to your resume or executive biography and make a great impression. It will also allow you to decide if you’re applying to a company you actually want to work for. Network The importance of networking absolutely cannot be understated. In today’s incredibly competitive job market,  who you know is much more important than what you know. However, be careful just relying on superficial LinkedIn connections to network. The more hands you shake, the larger your network will grow. Attending conferences, talking to your colleagues and using your college’s alumni network are great ways to meet new friends in high places. Although many executives may get nervous about leaving their job to take another opportunity, its important to keep growing and developing in your career. Who knows what you’re missing out on if you don’t take a chance on a new job. In order to find a great new position for you, make sure you network, tailor your resume to each job and do your research!