Often, performance reviews are conducted in a vacuum. Standard and specific metrics are used to determine a limited scope of an employee’s (or team’s) performance during a certain period of time – such as over a quarter or after a project. These might include the number of errors encountered or mistakes made, profit or revenue, number of sales, or turnaround time for certain tasks.
Recently, HR has wondered: Are we limiting ourselves with these metrics? Determined to develop a more complete and comprehensive outlook of an employee’s performance, we can search for more adept tools, metrics and technology to conduct performance reviews. This people-first, holistic approach can also lead to better management and interactions from HR, tackling areas of improvement with a more solid foundation of knowledge.
Holistic performance metrics
Holistic reviews don’t discard traditional metrics or key performance indicators (KPIs) from their framework. Rather, they integrate other metrics to capture a wider scope of an employee’s attributes. For example, using both numerical and analytical data such as sales or products created alongside level of teamwork and collaboration.
A holistic approach asks: What potential multifaceted challenges might the employee have faced during this time? How did they communicate with their peers and their clients? What critical or creative solutions did they develop in response to these challenges?
Further questions might include: What KPIs or objectives does the employee feel are most important? Where might this employee want to develop their skills? What are their future career goals? Were they properly supported by their managers or colleagues? How did they respond to feedback from managers or colleagues?
HR can combine data sources for a more complete picture. Instead of relying purely on the company’s bottom line, timesheets, and statistic-filled reports, HR can open communication with other team members, colleagues and departments. This approach can also ensure that accountability for both accomplishments and missteps is assigned and handled correctly.
Technology solutions
Modern technology performance assessment solutions take into account that many HR professionals are ready to embrace a more holistic approach. As such, they operate with more personalised frameworks in place. One example of this is BetterWorks, a cloud-based software that lets employees take charge in setting their own objectives for their work, which HR can then review and link to organisational key results. This allows for improved employee engagement, recognition, and incentives as they are allowed to create objectives that align with their own roles, which they know best.
