Having meaningful career discussions

Annual Performance Review – Having meaningful career discussions

Annual Performance Review

We continue our conversations around getting ready for annual performance reviews in our Coaching Café this week. Over the past few weeks, we’ve looked at key tips. Furthermore, a framework to set those conversations up for success. In addition, how to manage the trickier conversations. And also the performance development plan.

This week we focussed on having meaningful career conversations. And we welcome back our Resident HR specialist Paula Jones-Hunt and career expert and author Veronica Millen. Specifically, to share their years of experience around coaching and career conversations.

Why start a career conversation?

There are a range of reasons that people might want to engage in career conversations.

Often people think of career planning as having to climb a corporate ladder. Alternatively, getting that next big promotion. This might be accurate for some people. But for others, depending on your stage of life or career, perhaps you are ready for a career change? Or transitioning into retirement? Alternatively moving into a role or industry that will give you better job satisfaction? Not to mention more family friendly hours? There may be a range of different reasons for different people.

Importantly, if your team member comes to you to engage in a career conversation, it’s great to be ready to having a coaching conversation.

So how do you get started with a meaningful conversation?

Gallup research suggests that: Employees who strongly agree they have had conversations with their manager in the past six months about their goals and successes are 2.8 times more likely to be engaged

The first step is to ask some great coaching questions to help the person really understand what is important to them. In addition, to find out what they are currently thinking.

Some examples are:

If you built your dream job, what would it involve doing?

Do you currently have a career plan?

Furthemore, how do you track your career progress?

The next step is to put together a Career Action Plan. Importantly, like any good coaching action plan, this will include the goal and understanding the current situation. You can include resources that are needed. And most importantly, what the plan of action will be and and by when.

Understanding ‘career sweet’ spots

In the webinar, Veronica talks about career sweet spots. Furthermore, how to find out what your career sweet spot might be. The concept is featured in her new book ‘Career Agility’.

She explains that your career sweet spot is where your skills, interests and needs meet. Importantly, when you find the role that meets the needs of all three areas you have found your career sweet spot.

Find out more on the webinar

Perhaps you are a manager getting ready to have career conversations as part of your performance reviews? Or coaching managers to coach their people? Maybe you are a getting yourself ready for your own career conversation. Knowing where you want to go is the first step in the journey and this webinar is a great first step in assisting you to get there.