Employee evaluations matter. They help to encourage communication between supervisor and employee, contribute to a lower turnover rate, and allow organizations to focus on the mission at hand and become the best nonprofit organization possible.
The Bridgespan Group suggests in Performance Assessment: Setting the Stage for an Effective Process that evaluations should become part of the organizations culture. Starting evaluations is not easy, especially when it seems there is no time for what an organization already has to do. However, an organization needs to look at what evaluations can accomplish and the information that can come out of a successful evaluation.
Nicole Phillips, director of human resources from the Bridgespan Group agrees, adding that it’s important for the managers who will be conducting performance reviews to be comfortable doing so. “If you have people delivering performance reviews who aren’t confident doing it, then the process won’t run smoothly,” she said.
There are no set steps on how an organization should conduct evaluations. It may be informal or formal, could be a conversation, a supervisor review, or a peer review.
What makes an evaluation successful?
There are at least three elements to successful evaluations.
- Goal Setting: Make the importance of the goals crystal clear for employees.
- Continuous Feedback and Coaching: Organizations should provide continuous feedback throughout the year, not only when it is time for evaluations.
- Annual Report: The annual report is an overall look at the continuous feedback and evaluations throughout the year.
Employee evaluations are a great tool that can strengthen your organization. Is it time to review your organization’s evaluation policies?
Thanks to James Zackal/ThirdSectorToday; content edited for space.