Performance Reviewer Best Practices
Good reviewers base evaluation job performance results, not personality traits. Best practices: giving specific examples, using data sources listed on evaluation, focusing on observations, listing behavioral traits rather than personality or attitudes Data: Performance Evaluation document, classroom or workplace observation documents.
Good reviewers base evaluations on sound data. Best practices: using and citing data sources listed on evaluation documents. Data: list of data sources, Performance Evaluation document, Workload document.
Good reviewers clearly communicate performance expectations and standards. Best practices: job description matches work; supervisor/employee agree, job responsibilities and standards are clear to both Data: copy of job description, copy of job responsibilities and standards, employee feedback, workload document.
Good reviewers maintain an atmosphere of open, honest dialog. Best practices: maintaining two-way communication, listening well, frequently checking for understanding, paying attention to nonverbal clues, allowing the employee to participate fully in performance review process, regularly checking and responding to e-mail, keeping office hours. Data: employee feedback.
Good reviewers are willing to accept their share of responsibility for employee performance. Best practices: They ask what they themselves can do to improve the situation, realizing that performance is influenced by environmental factors such as training, resources, and work processes. Data: records of meetings held, record of information given and adjustments made to environmental factors.
Good reviewers assess employee performance regularly and provide timely and pertinent performance feedback throughout the year. Best practices: Feedback is clear, descriptive, constructive, both positive and negative. Reviewer evaluates performance throughout the year, rather than only once at review time, and discusses performance with employee as observed. Data: employee conference records, performance documentation.
Good reviewers honestly record performance. Best practices: avoiding the "halo" effect, recognizing top performers, confronting performance deficiencies, and objectively recording facts and situations. Data: Performance Evaluation Form, performance documentation, Performance Improvement Plans, counseling notes.
Good reviewers clearly identify performance goals and objectives and link employee objectives to departmental and institutional goals. Best practices: clearly communicate departmental, college and strategic plan goals, , employees feel connected to institutional mission, goals and objectives support key institutional goals and objectives. Data: 360-degree evaluation of supervisor, employee feedback, Performance Evaluation forms, institutional and department goals documents, objectives from previous year.
Good reviewers treat employees with respect. Best practices: fair, supportive, sensitive to and value diversity. Data: employee feedback.
Good reviewers present performance reviews in a way that actively involves employees in their own performance. Best practices: Including employees in setting goals and objectives, and involving employees in self-evaluation Data: Sources of data used for evaluation, Performance Review Form, goals actually set, employee feedback.
Good reviewers use the appraisal process as an opportunity to determine what new learning or resources are needed to assist the employee to move forward positively. Best practices: clearly set forth standards and expectations, provide suggestions for developmental activities, follow-through on own commitments, coach, teach, assist with professional development. Data: Program Review, Performance Evaluation form, development plan and activities completed.
Good reviewers develop their reviewer skills. Best practices: attendance at performance review classes, seeking personal coaching on review best practices, dialogue with peers or other administrators on review skills, reading articles or books on management. Data: Training completion records, reading citations, attendance at discussion groups where review skills are discussed.
