All aspects of the hiring process have been affected by the coronavirus outbreak, and that includes performance reviews.
With many team members working remotely and facing stress and burnout, this will be a performance review cycle like no other before. Follow these guidelines to conduct the review process with professionalism, compassion and efficiency.
Consider a Fundamental Shift in Your Performance Reviews
We can all agree on the fact that the current situation is unprecedented. With this in mind, it wouldn’t be unreasonable to consider a fundamental shift in your performance review strategy. Perhaps you may substitute it for brief coaching or feedback sessions to take place as the need arises. Or you may decide to refocus it and use it as a tool to offer your team immediate access to a manager at a time when they may need it the most.
Listen to Your Staff
Listening is an incredibly useful tool, particularly during times of uncertainty. Make a point of listening to your team during performance reviews. This may help you glean useful insights to refine current strategies and improve your employees’ experience. Keep these tips in mind to listen more effectively:
- Focus: Distractions abound during online meetings. Strive to stay focused on what the other person says.
- Paraphrase: Use your own words to repeat the other person’s point to ensure that you got the right message.
- Pay attention non-verbal communication: Even in video calls or phone calls there are subtle non-verbal cues that can be more telling that the words being spoken.
Define Technical Aspects
If your company is still working remotely, it’s important to define some key technical aspects. For example, determine what program or platform will be used to conduct the review and how are you going to get your employees’ signatures. Also, talk to each employee and agree on a time of the day when they can devote all their attention to the meeting.
Consider the Impact of COVID-19
As mentioned above, circumstances have been unusual over the last months. Factor in the extenuation due to the pandemic when reviewing past performance, but also when you set goals for the coming months. Be compassionate and empathetic when discussing aspects that need improvement. Don’t forget to underline that in many ways this review cycle does not set a precedent.
More Resources to Navigate the Current Circumstances
We have covered extensively the impact of the coronavirus outbreak on the hiring process. Here are some past posts you may find useful:
- What employers should consider before reopening
- How to keep remote members of your team engaged
- What employers can do to prepare for the post-coronavirus world
- How to onboard employees remotely
- What questions to ask during a remote job interview
- How the pandemic will change the coronavirus landscape
When it comes to recruiting and background screening, it’s important to get help from an expert. At Plexus Global we ensure global candidate screening through tailored solutions and the most reliable technology.
Contact us today by telephone (844-516-1008), email or through our social media accounts on Facebook, Twitter and LinkedIn to learn more about our services or schedule an initial discussion with one of our experienced professionals.
