Friday, November 29, 2019

Phrases for Performance Reviews and Tough Conversations

Phrases for wertzuwachs Reviews and Tough ConversationsPhrases for Performance Reviews and Tough ConversationsEmployees need feedback to know how they are doing and if they are meeting their managers expectations. Everyone loves a critique when you offer praise and satisfaction its more challenging when you need to discuss improving wertmiger zuwachs. The Usefulness of Performance Reviews Organizations hold a performance review to provide feedback, encourage employee development and assess employee progress and contribution. Whether an employee is meeting and exceeding job expectations is a critical component of the performance review feedback. A formal performance review challenges the managers communication skills because the employee understands that the performance review will affect his compensation. This can cause conflict, anxiety and hurt feelings. Regardless of how your organization practices performance feedback, when you need to hold a difficult conversation, these phr ases and approaches will help. Here are some tactics for providing feedback. Your Performance Is Outstanding This communication is easy, but you can improve its impact and effect. Mention why and give examples of the reasons for rating the employees performance as outstanding. The employee will learn from your examples, and you can encourage her to do more of the actions identified as musikbedrngniseworthy. Your Performance Can Be Improved Communicate that the employee is performing and meeting the expectations of the jobs requirements, but he has the opportunity to improve performance and aim to become an outstanding contributor. Outline the areas that need attention. Indicate that while his performance qualifies him for a raise because hes successfully carrying out the essential job requirements, youd like to see improvement in specific areas. Point out that if the employee is to earn the largest possible pay increase each year, he needs to improve current performance to a ccomplish that goal. Discuss the areas in which he has the greatest opportunity for improvement. Your Performance Is Not Meeting Expectations Note that while weve discussed his performance during weekly meetings, it is not improving and its time to talk about a plan of action. All employees are expectedat a minimum to perform their job expectations. Indicate the critical performance areas that need improvement before you can determine that his performance is meeting minimum job expectations. Point out that the employee is not performing the minimum job expectations that you discussed for the year. You might add, Perhaps I am not communicating this information clearly so that you understand the implications of your continued poor performance. Ive decided that our next step is a performance improvement plan in which we set goals, make agreements, set deadlines and due dates and frequently meet to assess your progress. Helping Employees Understand Do not continue to repeat the same information when an employee does not seem to understand what you are trying to communicate. Find other ways to say the same thing and hope that one of them will communicate your concerns. (Keep in mind that sometimes a lack of clarity signals disagreement.) Tell the employee that you are open to any questions that might help clarify the points he doesnt understand. Lastly, ask him to summarize his understanding of your key areas of concern. (You can then determine what is not understood and how far apart you are in communicating.) When the Employee Disagrees When you have tried to communicate the problems, you note with an employees performance, and the employee disagrees, questioning is one recommended approach. Can you provide examples that will show me what is wrong with my assessment of your performance?What do you think that I am misunderstanding about the performance that I regularly observed this quarter? The feedback that I have received from your coworkers, team m embers, and other managers is consistent with my observations. Consequently, I know that you disagree with my assessment, but I havent heard anything today that makes me want to alter it. For now, my assessment will stand. I will be happy to discuss your performance further in a month at our weekly meeting after I have seen evidence of improvement in these areas. Summarizing the Performance Review Tell the employee John, will you summarize our discussion here today so that I know that you and I are on the same page? Express confidence in the employees ability to learn, grow, change, or improve I am confident that you will be able to make the changes that we have discussed today. I believe that you will be able to make these improvements because you have the talent and skills needed for above-average performance. I am available to help you when you encounter barriers to your success or if you feel you will miss a due date or deadline. Just let me know when this occurs as soon as you are aware of it. Create a Follow-Up Plan State Lets make a plan together to pursue these improvements. I want to have feedback points frequently enough so that we know when a problem is occurring. Take the time between now and Thursday to come up with a plan to make these changes. On Thursday, you and I can agree on the goals and timelines for the plan. Ill think about it also and come prepared with my ideas. Reach Agreement on an Action Plan Ask the employee Do you agree that this is an achievable plan? We have put this plan together, and I am confident that you will be able to accomplish the needed improvements within the timelines we developed. Do you agree? What concerns do you have that we can talk about today? Announcing an Unpopular Pay Decision Tell the employee Based on your performance this year, I have determined that you are not eligible for a salary increase. Because you have not achieved your job expectations, you will not receive a raise in this cycle . I will be happy to discuss this further in 4-6 months after I have seen a sustained improvement in your performance. State the amount of the salary increase and the amount of pay that the increase will bring in the employees paycheck with a new salary increase. Percentages are not always motivating. While the employee will likely do the math, your goal is to make him aware of the change in pay. Example Your salary increase is $500, bringing your total salary to $55,000. When you communicate clearly and avoid a defensive reaction, you can express your expectations in a way that the employee hears. Speak so that employee listens, comprehends and improves. After all, isnt that the goal?

Monday, November 25, 2019

How to be ready to apply for your next job before you need to look

How to be ready to apply for your next job before you need to lookHow to be ready to apply for your next job before you need to lookYoure just coming off that promotion youd been angling for, and feeling great about the bump in pay, added responsibilities, bigger gruppe, and the chance to make a deeper impact. Youre still settling into the new position, so the belastung thing on your mind is your next role after that. But maybe it should be.The point isnt to encourage paranoid, presumptuous, or premature actionits just to make it clear that there are risks tonotplanning at least one step ahead, no matter whatas Ive learned firsthand. A few years back, I was a rising star in a public company that was grooming me to succeed our chief people officer. I moved cross-country for a promotion that put me on the leadership career path I was excited about. My future at company was bright, so I focused single-mindedly on rising up the ranks there. That was my mistake.Two weeks into my new job, my company was acquired. After a year of regulatory review, I was eventually asked to move onto the internal communications team of the newly merged companynot exactly my dream job. The path Id laid out for myself was derailed in an instant. I left a week later, picking up the pieces of what had felt like such a sure thing so recently.The reality is that theres only so much you as an employee can control when it comes to your career path. Mergers, layoffs, consolidations, downsizing, pivots, reorganizationsthe average worker is at the mercy of all unterstellung contingencies, many of them hard to foresee. The best way to protect yourself is to plan ahead for the position youd like to reach next, even if you have no intention to go after it yet. Heres how.Cultivate your network - and the skill of networkingYoure probably tired of reading about the importance of building your network. Dont be, because its actuallythe most important skillyou can develop, particularly at the outset of your career. And itisa skill.We tend to think of networking as an activitysomething you do in order to build connections, with that pool of names and contact information being the real thing of value. But a knack fordeveloping relationships is more lasting and powerful still your contacts will change jobs, get fired, retire, and move industries, and your own career needs and goals will shift, too. So while the relative worth of a given set of connections will always vary, your ability to build and maintain connections wont.And you have no way of knowing when a certain contact youve made will swing a door wide open for you right when you need it.Some people are natural networkers, effortlessly working any room and instantly finding the right topic of conversation. Most people arent. Some would rather have a root canal than attend a networking event. But if youre in the latter camp, you can still flex your networking muscle while youarentjob-searching, so its ready to do some heavy-li fting when you least expect to need it.RelatedHow To Turn Your Crappy Network Into A Better OneTry thisPut a 15-minute weekly flgel of time in your schedule. Maybe its every Tuesday right after lunch, or the last 15 minutes of your day each Friday, when you cant really focus on your work tasks any longer but still have some time to spare. Use this period to research people in your field, look up past colleagues, alumni, thought leaders, and others in your industry or at companies that interest you. Connect with them on LinkedIn (just be sure you personalize the messagehere are a few tipsif youre not sure how), drop an email, or even just follow them on Twitter until youre ready to reach out. Make a little progress on this shortlist every week, and watch your network grow.Twitter is handy because it lets you create a private list of your network. Unlike LinkedIn, you dont need these networking prospects to accept your invitation to add them. Once youre connected via LinkedIn or Twitt er, like, retweet, and comment on their posts to get on their radar.Show your workBlogging is a great way to elevate your visibility and share your point of viewand it feels nothing like job-searching. LinkedIn lets you embed blog posts and articles directly onto your profile throughits publisher feature, in addition to the ones you can share in your feed.Mediumis another straightforward, well-known resource that lets you pick up blogging pretty much immediately. Whatever tool you use, sharing your perspective on your field and work is a great way to get on the radar and open your prospects long before you actually need them.Try thisDont worry if you arent the worlds most eloquent writer or fear that your point of view isntvery unique. Thats okay. Focus on sharinghowyou do what you do. Working out loud and sharing your work is an easy way to get the attention of people who might be in a position to hire you one day. Consider writing about tools you use, organizational methods youve learned, how you structure your day, productivity hacks, and so on. It might feel mundane to you, but youll be surprised how sharing your experience might help others and elevate your profile. (And if youre self-conscious about your writing style or grammar, tools likeGrammarlyandHemingwaycan help tighten your writing.)Do some digital housekeepingMost people dont update their LinkedIn profile until theyre looking for a job. But recruiters and managers are using LinkedIn constantly to look for new hires. So since youll be using LinkedIn to build your network anyway, youll want to give themprospective contacts and hiring managers alikean up-to-date view of your experience. Sometimes even just waiting to see which recruiters reach out about which opportunities can give you a feel for how youre viewed in your industry. Thats useful intel for planning ahead even if you arent ready to consider a move.RelatedRecruiters Explain What The Worst LinkedIn Profiles Have In CommonDigital housekee ping isnt just about LinkedIn, though, its aboutknowing what will show upwhen someone Googles your name. Check your privacy settings on Facebook, Twitter, and any other social networks you might useor even the ones youusedto use (since it might not occur to you that a recruiter will stumble on that 2012 Tumblr account you loaded up withcat memes).Try thisSchedule a one-hour appointment with yourself every one to three months topolish up your LinkedIn profile. Maybe youwont even need half that much timeto bring it up to speedin which case, great This can also help you track key accomplishments and projects youve been involved with that might be hard to remember if only only update your LinkedIn once a year. Plus, these milestones may come in handy during your performance review or while negotiating that promotion.If you approach preparing for a new job as something thats part of your regular routine, youll have a much better chance of keeping your career on the track you want. Youll never have absolute control over your companys future, but all it takes are a few good habits like these to keep you in the best possible position in case you find youre not longer in your employers plans.About the authorLars Schmidt is the founder ofAMPLIFY//, a recruiting and branding agency that helps companies like Hootsuite, NPR, and SpaceX reimagine the intersection of culture, talent, and brand. Hes also the cofounder of theHR Open Sourceinitiative.MoreMore from Fast CompanyRecruiters Explain What The Worst LinkedIn Profiles Have In CommonRecruiters Explain Which Types Of Messages They Actually Reply ToForget CodingHeres The Skill You Need Most When You abflug Your CareerThis story originally appeared on Fast Company.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Tips for Job Hunting in Other States

Tips for Job Hunting in Other StatesTips for Job Hunting in Other StatesWhen it comes to a dedicated job search, I firmly believe that we have to be open to any and all opportunities available to us. We should take risks and apply for jobs we may be under-qualified for, jobs at companies we never thought about applying to, and even jobs in other states.When I apply for a job, I never limit myself to opportunities exclusively in New York City, where I currently live. While I may be more inclined to accept a position close to home, I am open to the possibility that there is a job calling out to me in another state even in another country, which my wife would certainly love. But while I keep an open mind to a possible move, I follow a set of rules before making rash decisions.Here are some tips for job searching in other states (which also apply to other countries and cities within the same state that are several hours away - but that would have made for a ridiculous blog title)1. Rese arch Companies - At Vault.com, we stress the importance of research for any type of job search.If job seekers are looking for a job out-of-state, they should make sure they want to work for a given company before making that sort of commitment. Obviously, you can research companies at Vault, but you can also look up a company through the About Us section of the potential employers website.Simple Google searches can lead job seekers to news items about the firm that could make a company a more or less attractive place to work and at the very least help you formulate questions for that important job interview.For more information on researching a company, click here.2. Research the Location - Researching a company is just the first step.I remember interviewing for a company in L.A. I was unemployed and it was the height of the economic crisis in 2009. I was at the stage of my life when I would have taken any job in any place, so when they asked me if I was willing to relocate, the a nswer was an obvious yes.But when I couldnt convey any knowledge about where they were located, how I would find an apartment, and how I would get to work since I didnt have a car at the time, I was disqualified from moving further in the job search. (However, they ended up using me on a freelance basis that allowed me to work from NYC).So, in addition to researching a company, it is important that an applicant research the location, too.You want to know where the company is located, how much rents are in the area, what places are even available to rent, what forms of transportation are available. You should also research aspects of the area that are important to you.I am spoiled by 24-hour diners, grocery stores, and drug stores. I love that the bars close at 4 a.m. and that there is a real night life in NYC. It might impact my decision if I did research and found out that everything closes at 10 p.m. and there is no diversity in terms of food and culture. Someone else may not care , but I would.So, researching those little things about a location might be helpful.At the very least, you want to sound knowledgeable about the area during an interview.3. Research Costs - Moving to another state is not as easy as getting on a plane, train, or automobile and heading there. There is a lot more involved in such a move. If youre thinking of taking a job out of state, you should also research the costs of moving - both the financial cost and the time cost. How much will it cost to fly in and out of another state for interviews?How much will it cost to transfer your belongings? Do you have enough for rent? Do you have enough for furniture should you decide to leave everything you own behind? And how long will it take you to relocate?This is important.You will be asked.Trust me.4. Research a Divorce Lawyer - Im just kidding. Sort of. Whenever I have looked for a job outside New York City, I have asked my wife something like, How would you feel about moving to Nebraska ? Sometimes she is enthusiastic and says, Ive always wanted to live there. Sometimes she just gives me a look, and I know better and continue my search. And sometimes she is a little more honest with her response and says, How do you feel about finding another person to spend the rest of your life with? You should always ask your significant other for their input before making a rash decision about your future, because it is tied to their future, too.To sum it up, all the research you do is aimed at satisfying the employers questions during the job interview, but the research is also important to helping you decide whether or not to take that risk in the first place. The more research you do, the fewer surprises you will face and the less stress you will have when making that transition to a new home and job.Follow me on Twitter. Follow Vault on Twitter and Instagram.