HR Strategies: Five Ways Employee Self-Evaluations Enhance Motivation in a Workplace
Almost since the day we can walk, we are taught not to brag. We often hear how it’s good to be humble. We’re told not to toot our own horn. Most of the time, this approach works well.
But as is so often the case with other social customs, staying humble and not boasting isn’t the best tactic in a business situation. There are times when you’re expected to talk about yourself, like a job interview or your employee self-evaluation.
You already know how a good job interview can make you feel positive and energized. But did you know that a self-review can also empower your employees? It’s true. Giving your employees the opportunity to speak for themselves is a powerful motivator and can help promote retention.
The Employee is in Control
Many people, maybe even most people, feel a disconnect between what they actually do and what their boss thinks they do. Maybe it’s the technology they work with, perhaps it’s the ins and outs of interactions with clients and co-workers, but odds are, there are aspects of your job your employees feel that you are simply unaware of or don’t understand.
The self-evaluation lets the employee control the conversation. It gives them the chance to present their accomplishments, to go into details about their job that they feel have been unacknowledged or unappreciated, and to raise concerns that they feel haven’t been addressed. The self-review is a conversation about the employee, and it gives the employee the chance to set the direction and the topics to be covered.
A New Look at the Future
In the instructions for the self-review, HR should ask the employee to take a few moments to think about what they want to do with their job. Is there a promotion they’ve had their eye on? Maybe they want to move to a different department. Your employee should consider the tasks that they’ve done and the accomplishments they’ve had while in their current position, and how those can be used in their next position. Career mapping is a great way to show your employee how they can advance with the company. It also helps develop their commitment.
Be supportive with your employee’s ambitions. Plan ahead before the meeting and work with HR and Payroll to have an updated list of job openings and descriptions. Work with your employee to find cross-training opportunities in departments and positions they’d like to try. Let them know that you are committed to helping their next career move. This can pay off in the form of increased employee engagement and enhanced employee loyalty. An employee who knows that you’re invested in their future with the organization is an employee who will work harder, reach for more responsibility and is more likely to stay with the organization.
Uninterrupted Supervisor Access
You may have noticed that it can be difficult to get a solid block of time to talk to your supervisor, uninterrupted. There is often a phone call or a visitor or some kind of other business that comes up while you’re talking, and no matter the circumstance, it can make you feel like you’re unimportant. Your employee almost certainly feels the same way. Make sure that you have scheduled a block of time to give to your employee. That’s why the performance review is a scheduled meeting – to give you the time to talk without any distractions. It also shows that you value you employee’s time and energy.
Get Your Employee’s Point of View
Newsflash: your employees have complaints. Some of those complaints can seem more relevant than others, but they should all be heard.
Nothing alienates someone more than the feeling that no one is listening. One of the most effective things you can do as a manager is to simply listen to your employee. They may have new ideas or a new perspective on things (which can lead to enhanced HR development) or they may simply need to get something off their chest. Whatever the situation, you can’t go wrong by taking the time to listen.
Your Employee Matters
The chance to discuss personal progress, goals and concerns in a frank and open discussion is extremely valuable for anyone, especially employees. Statistics show, and HR professionals agree, that feeling unnoticed and unappreciated is a prime cause of turnover. Basically, employees are more likely to leave when they feel like employers don’t care.
It’s easy to see how important employee evaluations are, but many employers still find them a challenge. Fortunately, advances in HR software have made employee evaluations and self-evaluations much easier and more effective. For example, iSolved’s Human Resources package has a very strong performance management piece. Using the right HCM can improve your company’s HR and Payroll processes. For more direction, contact Commonwealth Payroll & HR.
Everyone wants to matter, but too often, employers notice only exceptional work – either huge successes or failures. When you give your employees the chance to speak for themselves, you are illustrating the importance that they hold for your company. And that is a simple, effective way to encourage your employees to remain with your company.
For more information on how Commonwealth Payroll & HR can work with you on your strategic human resources planning, call us today at 877-245-1159.
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