Usually, people think of performance reviews as yearly events. They talk about the employee’s work and plans from the past year. But, recently, another trend is growing. It’s called continuous performance check-ins. They are regular meetings, like weekly or monthly. They allow managers and employees to share thoughts.
It could be questions, concerns or inspirations. These meetings aim to keep everyone involved and informed. While more meetings might seem disruptive to your packed week, they offer several upsides. These regular “one-on-one’s” can enhance your performance and your employees’.
#1 Find, Follow and Keep on Goals
The first benefit is about understanding your employees’ aims better. Regular check-ins make it easier. They ensure you know what goals your employees should target. Seeing employee progress in shorter time chunks helps. You understand your workers’ strengths and weaknesses better. With these insights, you can set goals matching their changing skills.
The meetings give another advantage. They help you see when goals might need adjustment. Employees may need to shift their attention. Preventing time drain on fruitless tactics or projects is crucial. Regular meetings ensure employees stay on the right path. They can also relax your mind. You’ll know things are running smoothly. You’re monitoring their progress consistently.
#2 Avoid Misunderstandings
Regular check-ins serve a second purpose. They make it easy to prevent misunderstandings. In the workplace, wrong assumptions about tasks or expectations often occur. By scheduling routine meetings, these errors can drop.
You have time to ask questions and talk about progress. You also have a set time to voice any project worries. It gives you and your employees peace of mind. You know your questions will get answers. Your work won’t get disturbed.
#3 Maintain Employee Involvement
Employee engagement is a hot topic in HR. By regularly checking in, you gauge their engagement level. Talking about what’s going well and what isn’t helps. It ensures their concerns don’t get ignored.
It shows your commitment to their comfort and success. Generally, it’s tough to disconnect from a project if you discuss it often. This routine prevents anyone from forgetting or avoiding key tasks. It provides you both time to rethink and rearrange your work duties.
#4 Make Year-End Reviews Less Intense
Year-end reviews can seem scary. They feel big and important. Weekly meetings can help that. They are like small quizzes before a big exam. These bitesize talks mean you and your employees won’t be surprised. When the big year-end review comes, you know what to expect. You’ll be ready.
Regular meetings also find problems early. Is an employee struggling? You can fix it right away. This stops mistakes from stacking up over months. It also eases the pressure of the big once-a-year review. But wait, there’s more.
Regular meetings aren’t just about catching mistakes. They also let you cheer on good work. Employees feel seen and appreciated. This keeps them plugged into their work.
Regular reviews have other perks. They help you see how an employee did over the whole year. If you only meet once a year, you might only remember recent work. But meeting often gives a clearer picture. You see strengths and weaknesses throughout the whole year.
#5 Learn How to be a Better Boss
Reviews go both ways. They aren’t just about catching employee mistakes. They’re also for you. You can use them to grow as a manager. You want to help your employees meet their goals. But they can also help you. They can teach you to be a better boss. So, when you meet, don’t be too proud. Ask for feedback. Ask how you can lead better.
By doing this, you’re not just pointing out their slip-ups. You’re also open about your own. You show them you’re working hard too. You’re making yourself better. When it’s time for your own evaluation, you’ll be ready. Just like they are.