Are individual employee assessment tools effective?
Recently a close friend was telling me about a professor they had in college. The professor would allow them to grade their own homework assignments, projects, and even tests. Knowing my friend I wondered how that worked out for him.
He knew that he was the one who controlled his grade… so he didn’t prepare for class. On the other side though is his wife. She — who had the same professor — truly critiqued herself, feeling as if she was never deserving of the “A” that she wanted so badly. While your office isn’t a college classroom but many of your employees may be primed and are ready for some self-evaluated employee assessment tools.
Include Them
Halogen Software recently wrote, “ Including employee self-assessments as part of your performance management process gives employees an active role to play.” A traditional way for evaluations is for a member of the management team to complete an evaluation form that addresses all the areas of responsibility for a particular team member, this may also include specific goals in your company's culture. The manager then goes over these areas of responsibility with the employee to let them know if they are hitting the mark or not and where they can show some improvement.
Some companies are trying online employee assessment tools . They can get comments and thoughts from an employee before the evaluation process begins, but have you asked your employees lately how they think they are doing? It is important to truly include them in their next evaluation. They don’t need to give themselves a grade but try asking them how they think they are doing on recent tasks and effectiveness and timeliness of project/work completion.. You may be surprised what they have to say.
Correct Their Own Problem
Employee assessment tools that include a self-evaluation process allow employees to address their own problems. According to a New York Times article, self-evaluating a problem can allow your employees to fix a problem in a non-judgmental manner.
Allowing your employees to address their own problems gives you (as the manager) more time to address fixing the problem. With your online employee assessment tools ask your employees if you they have any problems — you will know what to address during your evaluation. If you are in an evaluation and have to spend most of the time trying to address what you think the problems are you’re no closer to fixing it.
Praise Their Greatness
'“All right, so give me some idea of what you can do," says Haymitch.
“I can’t do anything," says Peeta, "unless you count baking bread."
“Sorry, I don’t. Katniss. I already know you’re handy with a knife,” says Haymitch.
“Not really. But I can hunt,” I say. “With a bow and arrow.”
“And you’re good?” asks Haymitch."
I have to think about it. I’ve been putting food on the table for four years. That’s no small task. I’m not as good as my father was, but he’d had more practice. I’ve better aim than Gale, but I’ve had more practice. He’s a genius with traps and snares.
“I’m all right,” I say.”
This quote from the popular book The Hunger Games is the perfect example of an employee that is not giving themselves enough credit. For those of you who don’t know Katniss is an amazing marksman. She can shoot a bow and arrow better than anyone. She is humble though — and you will have employees that will be too. Use this time to remind them about how important their skills and talents are to your company.
Your employee assessment tools are changing. No matter what your style is make sure to include some self-evaluation. You will get results that you may not get otherwise.
It is important to follow-up after each evaluation. Use a tool like Ving to check in with employees following their evaluations. You can send them an audio message without having to call them back into the office. Sign up for your free trial of Ving below.
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