Asking better questions in the annual performance conversations

This week we continue our Coaching Café series on coaching for successful performance conversations.

There is a lot we can do to coach our managers and team members to have successful annual performance conversations. Especially, performance conversations that lead people to feel proud and energised about their work. Rather than dreading this time of year. And for some thinking about all the extra work that it may involve. Particularly on top of everything else in your plate.

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Preparation

We know that success during this time comes down to preparation. Preparing a good set of questions that we can ask during the conversation is important. Furthermore, providing these questions to the team member ahead of time is even better. That way they can prepare and the conversation will be more valuable.

Why is this so important?

The research is clear, employees appreciate quality conversations with their managers. Importantly they are more likely to be engaged.

Contrast this with poor conversations. Particularly as research suggests that some conversations will do more harm than good.

https://www.gallup.com/workplace/215390/gallup-performance-management-ongoing-conversations.aspx

https://www.gallup.com/workplace/215390/gallup-performance-management-ongoing-conversations.aspx

Good quality questions

Open Door’s framework for annual performance conversations includes a set of good quality questions. The framework features in our workshops and coaching programs.

The questions focus on four key conversation areas and you can easily frame up questions:

Proud

What are you proud of?
What have you achieved?

Challenges

Where have you experienced challenges?
How did you overcome those challenges?

Improvement

Where have you improved this year?
What is the focus for the forthcoming year?

Plan

What needs to be included in the plan moving forward?
Where do you need to focus?

Finally

Whether you are involved in developing annual performance systems. Perhaps coaching managers. Or a manager embarking on the performance season. And getting yourself ready for your own performance review. This is a webinar that we are all going to benefit from.

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Every week our team of experts present “Coaching Cafe” webinar with topics for Managers, Leaders, Business Owners, and everyone who wants to be a better workplace coach, leading their teams to higher productivity, better outcomes and a happier, healthier workplace.