How to Set and Reach Department Goals?

A departmental goal inspires teamwork towards a shared mission and vision, clarifying its purpose and how it aligns with the company’s objectives. It promotes collaboration and supports overall organizational success. Are you confused about how to set department goals? Or is it that you have set goals but do not know how to go about reaching those goals? It is common to set a goal and forget about it until reminded during performance reviews. Working toward a deadline can make it challenging to achieve one’s full potential.

Research says 92% of people cannot achieve the goals they set. Though the setting is just the initial step, it is crucial. 

Per surveys, visualizing goals can make one more confident in achieving them. You forget them until the day of the reviews and again set the goal for the next cycle, thus getting stuck in a loop.

Goals

If goals are forgotten or not achieved, it can result in failure and stagnation in development, which can have a negative impact on the entire company. This can lead to a lack of interest in the department and a reluctance to set and achieve goals creatively. To avoid this, it’s essential to set reasonable goals that can result in better employee performance reviews and ultimately contribute to the success of the organization. This can lead to increased job satisfaction, higher employee engagement, and improved retention rates.

Also Read: 7 Reasons Why Goal Setting Is Important

How to Prepare for Department Goals?

Setting goals is not enough; one needs to track their progress in achieving them at frequent intervals. When setting reasonable goals, it’s important to consider the necessary resources to achieve them within the given deadline. Any previous failures in meeting department goals should be taken as examples, and efforts should be made to make them effective and achievable in the next attempt. Goals serve as useful tools to make informed decisions, prioritize efforts, and ultimately achieve the company’s mission.

How to Set SMART Goals?

SMART goals are ones that are specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely. Now, how to do it right with efficient use of resources and time? Let us find out.

SMART goals

  • Specific: Your goal should be clear and specific. Avoid vague goals like “improve performance” and instead aim for something like “increase sales by 10%.”
  • Measurable: Make sure your goal is measurable so you can track your progress and stay motivated. Use numbers, percentages, or other metrics to make your goal tangible.
  • Achievable: Your goal should be realistic and achievable given your resources and timeline. Set a goal that challenges you, but don’t aim for the impossible.
  • Relevant: Your goal should be relevant to your overall objectives and priorities. Don’t waste time on goals that don’t align with your bigger picture.
  • Time-bound: Set a deadline for achieving your goal. This will help keep you on track and provide a sense of urgency.
  • Break it down: Break your goal down into smaller, manageable steps. This will make it less daunting and easier to tackle.
  • Get specific: Determine the specific actions you need to take to achieve your goal. This will help you stay focused and make progress.
  • Write it down: Write your goal down and keep it somewhere visible. This will serve as a constant reminder and help you stay accountable.
  • Share it: Share your goal with someone you trust. This will provide support and accountability.
  • Celebrate: Celebrate your progress along the way and don’t forget to reward yourself when you achieve your goal. Positive reinforcement can help you stay motivated and on track.
Also Read: How to Implement SMART Employee Goal Setting in Your Company

Strategies to Define SMART Business Goals

Now that you have a clear idea of setting smart business goals, know the strategies to establish them right. Create objectives that focus on critical business areas. Analyze the opportunities well, identify the goals that can be challenging, and align with the business goals. One of the effective methods for setting department goals that are smart is:

SWOT Analysis 

SWOT Analysis

Conducting a SWOT analysis is an excellent way to analyze business performance and work on the area of improvement effectively. SWOT stands for:

  • Strength: Identify the areas where the business performs well. Identify the components and assets that are strong and can help to get an edge over the competitors. 
  • Weakness: Analyze deeply to understand what’s not working for the business. Look for the components that tend to decrease the value. 
  • Opportunity: Examine the external opportunities that can be helpful for the business. Look for business growth and the market change you want to focus on.  
  • Threat: What are the external factors that can threaten the business? Are there any troubles that can impact business operations? As consumer demand changes, a business may face new challenges and threats from competitors.  

Set and Achieve Goals per the Department

There’s nothing better than planning over-achievable goals that equal your business success. Setting objectives demands focusing on what a business needs to tackle in the current year. 

Achieving realistic goals

The main thing lies in picking the goals that hit realistically and help drive the business to the next level, even in economically challenging situations.  

Ensure the following to set achievable department goals:

    • The goals should align with company objectives 
    • List the goals per employee and department to set the priorities 
    • Use KPIs that can boost the accountability of the goals
  • Invite the employees to set their goals so that you can review them together during their performance reviews
  • Break big goals into smaller ones to bring consistency 
  • Set SMART goals that are specific, measurable, achievable, time-based, and set in real-time 
  • Foster a healthy dynamic in every department 
  •  Identify the workers falling short and help them achieve success in the future 

90% of studies show specific and challenging goals can trigger better performance than easy or try-your-best goals. It requires motivation and persistence to achieve positive goals compared to vague ones. 

Also Read: 7 Steps to Setting Workplace Goals and Making Them Happen

1. HR Department Goals

If you are in an HR department, you must know how hard it is to set goals that align with workforce trends, budgets, and others. Check the means available and set short-term goals to achieve. The goals of the HR department should set an example for other departments, which may find it challenging to set goals. You can also check performance reviews to set the right goals for this department. 

Some HR goals are:

  • Speeding up the hiring process using the latest tools
  • Increasing the current employee retention rate to reduce employee turnover
  • Trying to increase the number of upskilled employees by 20% in the coming months 

2. Marketing Department Goals

The marketing department’s goals are to increase company leads, boost brand awareness, and try unique and innovative things to launch a new product. Marketing has many facets, from technical to creative, in setting goals. It is often challenging to set goals for a creative department. A few samples of goals that can be set for the marketing department are:

  • The marketing department should set goals to drive website traffic by almost 50% with quality blogs
  • Redesigning landing pages can earn more click-through rates for the website 
  • There should be an increase in the sales funnel and more use of targeted email to reach the potential group of customers 

3. Sales Department Goals

Setting clear and measurable goals is essential for the success of any sales department. The goals should be tailored to the size of the department, the products or services being sold, and the most effective ways to generate leads.

For example, a sales department might set a goal to increase monthly revenue by 15% by implementing strategies such as cross-selling and customizing sales, as well as learning more about the products to better serve customers.

Another goal could be to limit the number of deals per unit over the next few months, which could help focus efforts on more profitable sales.

It’s important to consider the strengths and weaknesses of individual team members when setting goals and to ensure that everyone is motivated and working together toward a common goal. By encouraging healthy competition and collaboration, sales departments can achieve both individual and team success. 

Key Points to Note Before Setting Department Goals

Setting Achievable Goals for Work-Life Balance

work life balance

Incorporating workplace goals into daily activities can be a challenging task. It’s important to set clear and specific goals, prioritize tasks, and allocate time to turn goals into achievable actions. This can help maintain a healthy work-life balance. 

Get Clarity on the Team Structure

Team structure

Understand the capabilities and interrelationships of your team before setting work goals. Identify the support that can be provided to measure goals and process them to run projects smoothly. 

Focus on Coordination Among the Team

Team work

For every goal, there are things that are in your control; you have to plan for the rest. It is the skill and collaboration of a department that will help in achieving goals. Better coordination can prevent the team from missing deadlines. This is how you can set smart business goals.

Consider the Big Picture 

Professional development

Efficiency and productivity in the workplace are crucial for career progression and success in the long term. It’s important to focus not only on immediate tasks but also on gaining valuable experience and skills that can be applied to future opportunities.

Also Read: How to Set the Right Employee Development Goals

Continued education and training are key to expanding responsibilities and advancing in one’s career. Seeking out such opportunities can help individuals stay relevant and competitive in their field, and increase their chances of getting promoted.

Compare Goals with Your To-Do List

To-do list

Setting clear and measurable goals is essential for the growth and success of any business. However, it can be challenging to stay focused on these goals when urgent assignments and client demands arise.

For example, continuing professional education is crucial for boosting proficiency and experience, but it often falls short due to time constraints and competing priorities.

To overcome this challenge, it’s important to align annual goals with daily to-do lists. This can help ensure that daily tasks and urgent assignments are moving the team toward the larger goals and targets set for the year.

By prioritizing and balancing urgent tasks with long-term goals, businesses can achieve sustained growth and success.

Goal settings and OKRs


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How do SMART goals help with professionalism?

Ans. SMART goals can be summarized as follows:

  • They help achieve professional goals
  • They are measurable, achievable, specific, time-bound, and correct 
  • They give a framework to track progress and mark the required revisions 
  • They help one stay focused to achieve business goals

Q2. What is the need for the strategy for goals?

Ans. After you set your goals, don’t try to achieve them together, as it can be overwhelming, leading to failure. Instead, analyze the objective, evaluate the sources available, and plan on how to tackle it considering the priorities.  In other words, you need to have a proper strategy in place.

Q3. Which strategy can help in achieving business goals?

Ans. SWOT analysis can clarify business goals. It helps analyze what’s working and where the business can improve more to yield better. That way, you understand which aspects of the business need attention and bring in more opportunities for the company.

Types of Employee Rewards and Why They Matter!

In the realm of talent management, one thing stands true: motivated employees are vital. Amid various strategies for inspiration and retention, employee rewards remain a cornerstone. Diving into the world of types of Employee Rewards, we find not just perks but potent tools for shaping a motivated workforce.

These rewards aren’t mere extras; they ignite passion, loyalty, and peak performance. Whether it’s recognition programs or financial incentives, your choices can profoundly affect morale, job satisfaction, and your bottom line.

Now, coming to the matter of focus, HR professionals refining talent retention or business leaders creating attractive workplaces will find this essential.

As we explore, we’ll uncover the psychology behind effective rewards, delve into specific incentives, and offer guidance on aligning rewards with organizational goals.

Venture into the captivating world of employee rewards, your roadmap to understanding their importance, and how they fuel a culture of excellence. Your journey to unlocking workforce potential starts with types of employee rewards.

Types of Employee rewards

Rewards and Recognition Module


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the top 5 types of employee benefits?

Ans. The top 5 types of employee benefits include health insurance, retirement plans, paid time off (PTO), professional development opportunities, and wellness programs. These benefits enhance job satisfaction, attract top talent, and promote employee well-being.

Q2. What are the top 3 most sought-after employee benefits?

Ans. The top 3 most sought-after employee benefits are health insurance, retirement plans, and flexible work arrangements. These benefits are highly valued by employees for their impact on well-being, financial security, and work-life balance.

Q3. What types of rewards are most effective?

Ans. The most effective types of rewards vary but often include recognition and appreciation, performance-based bonuses, and opportunities for career growth and development. These rewards tend to motivate employees, boost morale, and drive performance.

Why Your Business Needs This Talent Management Framework

In the ever-evolving landscape of business, the Talent Management Framework has emerged as a critical cornerstone for success. Talent, once a resource, has transformed into the lifeblood of organizations, influencing their growth and vitality. The ability to attract, nurture, and empower top-tier talent has become a strategic imperative, and it’s the driving force behind why your business needs this indispensable framework.

In this article, we walk through the world of strategic talent management, shining a spotlight on the pivotal Talent Management Framework. Whether you’re a burgeoning startup aiming for rapid expansion or an established corporation striving to maintain a competitive edge, understanding the profound significance of this framework is paramount to your sustained success.

Throughout our exploration, we will dive into the core principles, advantages, and best practices of the Talent Management Framework, unraveling its potential to shape your company culture, foster innovation, and secure long-term viability. By the time we conclude, you will not only grasp the importance but also the absolute necessity of integrating this framework into your business strategy.

So, fasten your seatbelt as we navigate the compelling terrain of talent management, with a particular focus on the transformative power of the Talent Management Framework. Your journey to optimizing your workforce and achieving unparalleled success begins right here.

Also Read: Talent Management- What Is It and Why Is It Important?
Talent management frameworkAlso Read: What Is the True Cost of Recruiting and Onboarding Employees?

Talent Management Software

Frequently Asked Questions

Q1.What Is Talent Management and Why Is It Important?

Ans. Talent management is the strategic process of attracting, developing, and retaining top talent within an organization. It is crucial because it ensures a company’s workforce is aligned with its goals, promotes employee growth, enhances productivity, and ultimately drives long-term success.

Q2. Why do companies need talent management?

Ans. Companies need talent management to attract, develop, and retain top talent. It helps align employees with organizational goals, fosters a culture of growth and development, improves workforce productivity, and ensures long-term competitiveness in a dynamic business environment.

Q3. How to Develop a Talent Management Framework?

Ans. Developing a Talent Management Framework involves strategic planning, identifying key talent, setting performance metrics, and implementing talent development programs. It requires a comprehensive approach to align workforce capabilities with organizational goals for sustainable success.

Evolution Of Performance Management System

Organizations these days have become more employee-focused and less process-driven. Performance management has changed in many ways over the past few decades. Many organizations have ditched their annual performance reviews. This has been the era where continuous feedback became popular as one of the most effective ways of managing performance.

What led to the evolution of performance management? There are many early references to performance appraisals in America that date back over a century. Here’s a timeline of how performance management has evolved over the last century.

Continue reading “Evolution Of Performance Management System”

Employee Management: Dealing With Awkward Situations At Office

Have you ever been in a situation where you really wanted it to be over already because it was too embarrassing? Well, welcome to the club! We all have been there at least once.

Continue reading “Employee Management: Dealing With Awkward Situations At Office”

How HR Helps Performance Review Calibration and Standardization

Performance review calibration is a workplace mechanism involving a formal discussion of proposed employee ratings among managers. The goal is to conduct a comprehensive performance evaluation of an employee, ascertaining their future, promotion, appraisals, etc., in the company.

Performance review calibration serves as a powerful tool in ensuring a uniform set of guidelines for assessing the performance of all employees. These calibrations also assist leaders in supporting one another and collaborating on the standards that should be set for team members at all levels of the organization. This helps managers draft employee expectations while determining the best way to conduct performance reviews. This practice removes the bias in the performance review process and ensures managers agree on the performance criteria against which their reports will be rated.

This article outlines the performance review calibration process, its significance, and some best practices.

What Is Calibration in Performance Reviews?

Performance review calibration (or performance management calibration) enables managers in an organization to maintain similar standards in each of their direct reports. This ensures everyone in the department is ranked on the same scale. The department, employee level, or job role can gauge and decide calibrations.

A firm should perform performance review calibrations before each significant review cycle. However, they may also be carried out if departments merge or organizations go through a management transition.

Also read: Introducing A Performance Management Tool In Your Organization

The Role of HR in Performance Calibration

Role of HR in performance calibration

HR professionals play a pivotal role in successful calibration sessions. They act as neutral facilitators, mitigating bias, conflict, and meeting fatigue. HR professionals must define clear behavioral expectations from participants, introduce data, and manage group size and agendas. 

Ensuring Consistency

As a neutral facilitator, an HR should ensure fairness, objectivity, and consistency during calibration and standardization sessions of performance reviews. In addition to defining and upholding the criteria used to evaluate personnel, HR also assists managers in this process.

Aligning Employee-Employer Goals

HR professionals collaborate with managers to identify key performance indicators to evaluate an employee’s performance. They also set defined and objective performance criteria that align with the company’s vision and values.

Maintaining Review Cycles

Performance review cycles - performance calibration

HR is responsible for holding performance review calibration meetings after every review cycle. These review cycles may be annual, biannual, or more regular, depending on how a business is set up. The important thing is to keep the performance review calibration process consistent. A Betterworks survey reveals that 66% of companies implementing a continuous performance management system witnessed enhanced productivity.

Training Managers

HR provides necessary training to managers to understand effective evaluation techniques. The training equips managers with the skills to conduct fair assessments. HR educates managers about various aspects of performance evaluations. These aspects could be giving constructive feedback, counseling on performance issues, and deciding corrective actions while maintaining a supportive environment for growth.

Tracking Standardization

Furthermore, HR needs to monitor and keep track of the performance review process’s overall efficacy. It is their role to examine data gathered from evaluations to spot trends and potential improvement areas. The data lets them choose talent management methods like promotions, career advancement opportunities, or corrective measures.

An HR must compile aggregate and historical data for the business, including average ratings across critical factors, performance distributions, and the identification of outliers. Human Resources professionals’ involvement in performance review calibration and standardization is paramount for fostering transparency in the workplace while boosting trust and employee morale.

By setting clear evaluation standards, facilitating calibration sessions, educating managers regarding the process, and analyzing evaluation data – HR contributes significantly towards enhancing employee engagement and cultivating a culture of continuous improvement within organizations. 

Steps Involved in Calibration of Performance Reviews

Steps Involved in Calibration of Performance Reviews

Calibrating and standardizing performance reviews are essential in keeping the review process unbiased and accurate. An organization’s HR drives the calibration process, including building capability models and facilitating manager calibration discussions. To effectively calibrate and standardize performance reviews, HR must follow these five steps:

Define Specific Criteria

Managers and supervisors should meet with executives and HR to review the goals, the evaluation process, and the standards for good performance ratings. Performance standards should support organizational objectives and offer a framework for evaluating many facets of job performance.

Train Managers

Managers need to be educated about effective techniques for performance evaluations. This includes training managers about the importance of calibration and guiding how to assess employees consistently using the established criteria.

A survey by Gartner found that 47% of HR leaders cannot identify employee skill gaps and training needs. Hence, HR should identify the training requirements for managers and accordingly use the latest methods and friendly technology to provide training.

Also read: Performance Appraisal Checklist for Managers and Employees

Conduct Calibration Meetings

HR representatives and senior management discuss employee appraisals. To ensure managers evaluate employees according to the same criteria, the group reviews the performance reports and employee ratings. Certain managers may rate employees as top performers, while others may rate the same employees as average performers.

Discussions are held to verify that ratings are issued properly and consistently and to modify individual ratings to conform to criteria. Consider using organizational charts for an easy-to-read overview of the employees.

Also read: Performance Calibration Meetings: Everything You Need To Know

Encourage Ongoing Feedback

Managers should understand the importance of continuous feedback. Regular feedback throughout the year, rather than waiting until the formal review period, helps ensure employees clearly understand their strengths and areas for improvement. Additionally, managers should be able to justify their ratings and comments and offer corrective actions and next steps for each employee.

Employee recognition statistics show that 85% of surveyed professionals feel weekly check-ins with their manager(s) increase employee engagement compared to their counterparts with annual reviews.

Communicate Feedback

Once necessary adjustments and decisions have been made, managers can communicate and discuss their performance reviews with employees. Managers should support their reviews with corrective action or a professional development plan for the employee. A study found that 86% of employees feel they would quit their current jobs in case of no opportunities for professional development.

Importance of Performance Reviews Calibration Process

Importance of Performance Reviews Calibration Process

Data by Gallup reveals that focusing on a robust performance management system has lowered turnover rates by 14.9%. Performance review calibration and standardization benefit organizations of all sizes. Businesses can guarantee a fair, accurate, and reliable performance evaluation by implementing a robust calibration mechanism.

Fair Ratings

One of the primary benefits of holding calibration sessions is that they promote fairness throughout the organization. When managers calibrate performance reviews, they compare ratings across different verticals or departments to ensure consistency. This eliminates any potential risk of favoritism that may exist.

For example, a lenient manager may rate all his employees 5/5, while a stricter manager may rate employees with similar performance standards a 3/5. The performance review calibration process aims to mitigate such discrepancies.

Also read: 9 Ways To Tackle Unconscious Bias At Work

Employee Engagement

Another benefit of calibration is its ability to propel employee engagement and development. With standardized performance reviews, employees gain insight into their strengths and areas for improvement. This enables them to understand where they stand regarding company expectations and provides a roadmap for career growth and advancement.

Also read: Best Employee Engagement Strategies for Better Workplace

Enhanced Communication

Calibration meetings are crucial in fostering open communication between managers and employees. This transparent communication is important for any business to have its employees aligned with the organization’s goals.

Calibration sessions involve open dialogue between multiple stakeholders from various levels within the organization and cultivate a culture of collaboration and shared understanding among team members.

Better Decision-Making

Additionally, calibrated performance assessments provide organizations with useful information for making informed talent management decisions, including succession planning and promotions.

By prioritizing and implementing efficient performance review calibration and standardization processes, companies foster an inclusive work environment based on meritocracy. Investing in robust performance management software is a great way to strengthen an organization’s overall performance management system.

Also read: 5 Reasons To Start Using An HR Management Software For Your Business!

Summing Up

Equitable performance evaluations are only possible with performance management calibrations. When conducted properly, performance reviews inspire workers, foster learning via constructive feedback, and provide businesses insight into employee performance.

For every business, getting the performance appraisal cycle right is important. Engagedly provides new-age performance management software to align people’s practices with organizational strategy. Our all-in-one performance management system helps you get performance review calibrations right the first time by combining the tools, workflows, and insights to develop engaged and high-performing employees within a winning culture.

Performance Reviews


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What do the 3 R’s of performance management refer to?

Ans. The three R’s of performance management are rewards, retention, and remuneration.

Q2. What is the difference between KPIs and KRAs?

Ans. KRAs (or Key Responsibility Areas) refer to a set of responsibilities attached to a job profile. KPIs (or Key Performance Areas) are the metrics used to measure the level of accomplishment of KRAs.

Q3. Can managers have their rating scale for appraising an employee’s performance?

Ans. No, the rating scale must be the same across all the organization’s departments. Managers cannot develop an additional rating scale.

How To Develop A Talent Management Process

In the ever-evolving landscape of modern business, the talent management process has emerged as the compass guiding organizations toward excellence. It’s the roadmap that transforms raw potential into exceptional performance, turning ambitious individuals into invaluable assets.

At its core, the talent management process is the strategic orchestration of attracting, developing, and retaining talent. It’s the engine that powers innovation, growth, and a sustainable competitive edge. In today’s world, where the battle for top talent rages on, this process is not merely an option; it’s a necessity.

In this article, we embark on a journey into the heart of talent management, revealing the intricate steps and best practices that constitute an effective talent management process. Whether you’re a seasoned HR professional seeking to refine your strategy or a business leader aiming to create a workforce that thrives, the insights we explore here are essential.

Throughout our exploration, we’ll uncover the art of talent attraction, the science of skill development, and the psychology of talent retention. We’ll delve into the tools and techniques that empower organizations to identify, nurture, and harness their most promising assets.

So, fasten your seatbelts as we navigate the exhilarating landscape of talent management. The Talent Management Process we’re about to unveil will not only inform your strategies but also empower you to create a workplace where talent is not just managed; it’s transformed into your organization’s driving force for success. Your journey to unlocking the full potential of your workforce begins here.

Also Read: Best Talent Management Statistics HR Needs to Know
How to Develop a Talent Management ProcessAlso Read: Why Your Business Needs This Talent Management Framework

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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the 7 components of talent management?

Ans. The 7 components of talent management typically include recruitment and selection, onboarding, performance management, learning and development, career planning, succession planning, and employee retention strategies. These components form a comprehensive approach to nurturing and leveraging talent within an organization.

Q2. What are the 4 key steps of the talent management process?

Ans. The 4 key steps of the talent management process involve attracting top talent, developing their skills, engaging and retaining them, and strategically deploying talent to drive organizational success. These steps create a holistic approach to optimizing a company’s human capital.

Q3. What is the first step in the talent management process?

Ans. The first step in the talent management process is attracting and identifying top talent. This involves recruitment, sourcing candidates, and selecting individuals who align with the organization’s needs and culture.

Chart Topping HR Moves: Unveiling Lessons from Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour

The dynamic world of music produces several prodigies with shimmering melodies against the backdrop of time. Taylor Swift is an ode to a transformational odyssey of success – from her delightful debut hits to her recent releases. Yet, it resonates within the dynamic landscape of Human Resources. The enthralling tale of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour discovers the artistic parallels between her highest-grossing $1 billion shows and HR implications.

HR can discover its hymn of innovation, adaptation, and empowerment just as Swift’s music carries listeners through several eras. Although primarily related to the music industry, Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour has surprisingly influenced the human resources field too. The tour motivates HR professionals to infuse audience engagement, community building, and a strategic approach to reinvention into their daily work.

What Do the “Starlight” Trends Say?

Wondering what is the impact of the Eras Tour? Since Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour began in March, arenas across the globe are pouring in with Swifties. She has performed in front of record-breaking audiences – even those without tickets have circled stadiums to take in the magnificent vibe.

According to Bloomberg, the Eras Tour performances will generate more than $10 million each, with concert tickets making between $11 million and $12 million. The global tour adventure consists of 106 mesmerizing shows so far. Behind the scenes, a financial masterpiece unfolds – venue tweaks, streamlined team, and promoter prowess yield $5.7 million nightly profit, trumping 48% of the NBA’s annual earnings. Yet, brace for a larger impact, as rumors hint at a mind-boggling $4.6 billion economic influence.

From Concerts to Culture: Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour Echoes in HR

Any brand or person struggles to stay current, engaging, and relevant; for an artist to do so in a competitive field and society that wants you to fail takes incredible fortitude. Swift always keeps fans at the edge – any album, single, music video, short film, or tour date can drop any minute in the Swiftie World.

Moreover, the Grammy winner has repeatedly proven that she is here to stay – by releasing 4 full-length albums in a pandemic year and re-recording her previous albums while on a sold-out tour. Internal communication and human resource experts should take note of the innovative strategies for the record release.

So, how did Taylor Swift impact the HR world?

Evolving HR Encores

Evolving HR Encores

Taylor has experienced many life stages, a.k.a. the life of Eras, and has chronicled many of them in her poems, ballads, videos, and pop songs. Her path has been like a chameleon dancing in the spotlight, changing appearances with growth and wisdom. Her transformation into several versions of herself according to the particular stage of her life has demonstrated real evolution.

Evolution is fascinating and unsettling, necessitating acceptance of your experiences. It requires evaluating them and selecting what to bring with you into the upcoming season.

Similarly, ecosystems within businesses are ever-changing. Imitating the tour’s key HR tactics ensures that organizations thrive in the face of change. HR must focus on finding lessons in the past, deciding what to bring into the new path, and realizing the old rituals and practices that still benefit the new. Your change-ready employees will almost always support the new plans in the organization.

Also Read: Strategic Workforce Planning: Aligning Human Resources With Business Goals

Embracing Change and Strategizing to Shake It Off

Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour made a sensible tactical change in her marketing graph. She revamped the notion of using nostalgic albums as an income source while going on a stadium tour worldwide. Her team was quickly on board with this idea and supported her vision to face the new challenge in the entertainment industry headfirst.

Similarly, employers and HR officials must consider the strategy adjustments to address the new employee engagement problems brought on by Covid-19. Businesses leading these conversations will position better to weather the storm.

Many human resource and internal communication teams have been in crisis communication mode since the pandemic first hit. Your employee engagement strategy must ensure and update several issues, such as:

  • the lack of leadership visibility at work
  • the shifting emphasis within the employee value proposition
  • the difficulties and practicalities of reopening workplaces
  • issues of fairness regarding WFH
  • new mental health needs

Moreover, a deeper understanding that employees are the best asset is the bedrock of the new outlook. Just like Swift knowing each Eras Tour’s truck driver’s name and handing them bonuses of $100,000 each, many CEOs now know the significance of understanding the needs of their employees. They recognize them as people rather than just numbers on a spreadsheet.

Decoding the Employee Needs in Style

Decoding the Employee Needs in Style

Taylor Swift’s impact on HR extends toward understanding employee requirements. The recent tour reflects a workplace with a blend of empathy and efficiency. Swift acknowledged that listeners demand change. Glossy pop with bombastic visuals is out of style due to short attention spans, being cooped up at home, and being deeply affected by a global epidemic.

She offered the public what they wanted – new Taylor Swift songs to enjoy and analyze – by releasing two brand-new albums, folklore, and Evermore, to a captive audience who might have gotten weary of listening to her previous album, Lover on-repeat. Then, she announced the much-awaited Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour and gave in to the demands of her audience, waiting for 5 years to see her ruling stadiums.

Taylor Swift sings about not understanding in exile: relating to repeated actions with the same result. Similarly, employees have recently expressed a desire for clarification and modernization. Being a mere statistic or number in your firm is one of the most demotivating experiences you can undergo. However, that was the only way businesses interacted with their staff for a long time.

Earlier, communications were impersonal and occasionally even third-person written. However, employees now demand information on their performance, the company’s position, career advancement opportunities, and more. It is refreshing to see improvements as more HR departments adopt human-centered communication strategies. It is a way to reinvent themselves as “people teams.”

Also Read: Bridging Cultural Gaps Through Effective Intercultural Communication

Taylor-Made Art of Community-Building

Swift’s fan base exemplifies a vibrant community. It feeds on interpersonal connections and belongingness. Moreover, she keeps coming up with creative micro-moments to interact with people. The precious moments can be through social media, having fans figure out the mystery of her new album, or sending personalized handwritten notes when shipping her merchandise.

The key lesson is she values her audience and sees them as intelligent individuals. HR can use this creative strategy to build internal communities and networks. It promotes employee cooperation and mentoring. It is the HR team’s responsibility to think proactively about the changing environment. One-on-one interviews usually capture more sensitive and nuanced input, although surveys will work in a pinch to gauge public opinion.

The gold standard for many years was to question staff members once a year about how they were faring and what they understood about the organization’s strategy. Many HR professionals acknowledge their capacity to help and nurture people so they can be their best selves.

Additionally, the dynamics between HR and company employees are changing. Human resources used to be something that employees avoided. However, today, workers recognize HR as a genuine professional and personal development resource. The Swift team knows that knowledge leads to trust, and trust ensures good transformation.

Enchanting the Curious Eye: Where Novelty Meets All Too Well

employee experience (1)

Studies suggest we are intuitively attentive toward something new or surprising in our surroundings. Swift capitalized on the power of difference by deviating from her tried-and-true promotional technique that generally precedes a new release. Instead, she quietly released her new record, giving fans mere hours to anticipate the album’s magnificence and arousing more interest than it otherwise might have.

Moreover, the brilliant skill and careful preparation of the Eras Tour showcased a spectacular execution of each era’s theme and performance. Similarly, HR must encourage employees to participate in upskilling to stay competitive in an evolving workplace. Additionally, the memorable and engaging events by Swift’s Eras Tour highlight the value of employee experience. Workplaces must prioritize well-being and offer developmental chances, garnering a feeling of belonging with HR in mind.

Also Read: Boost Your Employee Experience for a Better Customer Experience

The Love Song of Bonuses

Swift reportedly paid 10 times what other artists pay as incentives to all show employees – dancers, sound engineers, riggers, and caterers. It may be another factor in Swift’s popularity.

Nobody ever accomplishes anything good on their own; moving the equipment from one city to the next requires 50 truck drivers. Hundreds of workers are needed to put up the display. Employment is fundamentally a business transaction. Your workers toil away for money. Paying them good salaries, providing reasonable insurance for their families, and balancing other important benefits are key to retaining employees.

A Lasting Overture Inspired by Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour 

So, how successful is Taylor Swift’s Eras tour? Taylor Swift’s all-encompassing strategy demonstrates how beyond the transactional side, influential HR fosters a sense of purpose, belonging, and gratitude among employees. An organization thrives when HR acknowledges and supports the innate value each person contributes to the table, just as Swift’s show depends on the collaborative work of numerous roles.

Ready to “Begin Again” and nurture employee engagement at your workplace? Explore Engagedly and find innovative tools and suites to heighten your business’s growth and performance management today!



Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why is novelty significant in employee engagement?

Ans. A well-functioning workplace ensures regular interactions and creative inputs to engage employees. The unique activities and challenges intrigue employee productivity, creating a dynamic, exciting work environment.

Q2. How does Taylor Swift’s Eras tour depict top-notch HR practices?

Ans. The immaculate implementation of Taylor Swift’s Eras Tour is a testament to a top-notch HR team. Only an efficient HR team can seamlessly organize several tasks – selling tickets and merchandise, safekeeping outfits, fixing issues, and more – in a jam-packed concert. Additionally, gratitude actions like bonuses reflect HR’s responsibility in building teamwork and appreciating contributions.

Q3. How does the Taylor Swift Eras tour HR team reflect employee satisfaction?

Ans. Taylor Swift and her team recently appreciated and recognized each contributor for the tour, from dancers to caterers. The employee bonuses and diversity of Swift’s team demonstrated the value of appreciating each behind-the-scenes worker. The gesture promoted job satisfaction and contentment among the hired staff.


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5 Ways How Effective HR Management Helps Business Growth

Human resources are the driving force behind the success of any business, and they are the ones who do the physical and mental work. Human resources ensure that all the functions in the business are running in the way they should. Business of any size needs efficient HR management to get the best optimal results from its employees. Human resource management involves all business management decisions that affect the relationship between the employees and the organization. 

Using Payroll and HR Software, an organization can improve its ability to find the best-fit candidate from the huge list of applicants without any bias. 

Importance of Human Resource Management in business

Importance of HRM

The growth of the company is wholly dependent on its employees, and human resource management is an important part of increasing and sustaining the health of the business. To make the company stay competitive in the business, HR managers play an important role in recruiting the right talent into the business. 

Apart from recruiting the candidates, HR management also ensures benefits and salaries are fair, keep employees satisfied in their job, and make personalized tasks. HR management assists the employees with the right training, HR courses, and also other developments needed to meet the objectives. Here is the list of 5 effective ways an effective human resource management can help the business grow.

Also read: The Significance Of Having an HRM Software In Your Organization

Hiring and retaining the best talent

For any company, expansion, and success depend on its ability to hire and keep top talents. According to an earlier survey, businesses with effective talent recruitment strategies had 3.5 times more revenue growth than those that don’t have strategies.  

To successfully overcome the challenges of a business environment that is ever-changing, it is important to develop a diversified and talented team. An organization’s efficiency, customer happiness, ability to compete in the market, and more can be improved by having highly skilled and motivated employees.

Effective recruitment and retention methods often have the important side effect of reducing the turnover of employees. Replacing an employee might cost anywhere between one and a half and two times that person’s annual income. Businesses can attract and keep top talent, which is necessary for long-term success, by investing in effective recruitment and retention methods.  

HR management is important in this process because it helps identify applicants with the necessary education and work history. Businesses are better able to meet the demands of a quickly evolving business environment and retain top talent when they have a robust and diversified staff.

Employee turnover

Planning, management, training, and benefits reduce retention rates and increase recruiting costs. Project delays, productivity losses, training obligations, and a negative effect on team morale are ways employees find it better to leave the job, which can hurt the firm.  

By putting the right programs in place and using HR planning, you can increase your ability to retain employees. Through the use of employee satisfaction surveys, clear policies and procedures, and programs to boost morale, you can improve employee satisfaction. 

Salaries also play an important role in employee turnover. By ensuring that the right salaries are paid to the employees, the credibility of the organization will increase among the employees. So look for the best Payroll Software and incorporate it into your organization for effective payroll management.

Also read: Here’s How An HRM Software Can Benefit You

Developing new talent

Your HR team must create an employee onboarding process to welcome your new employee. They will benefit from this by gaining the required abilities and organizational knowledge. If you instill the ideas of cooperation, openness, and constant progress sooner for the new hires, the results will be better. 

Having work procedures, protocols, and guidelines that promote a satisfying working environment is important. Each worker will have to become an expert in the techniques and methods particular to their job. 

HR should provide informational guides, select people to oversee new recruits, standardize employee training, and do other things. Having such a process in place will enable new hires to focus more on doing well in their new roles. 

Performance evaluation and employee development

Performance evaluation and employee development

One of the most important components of an HR management strategy for company success is performance management and employee development. A reliable performance management system is needed to track staff progress. 

You can track an employee’s performance, compare it, and understand their strengths and areas for development as part of keeping records of their development. The implementation of the performance management system should fall under the HR department.  

Data from a performance management system can provide an amount of knowledge about a worker’s objectives and potential career paths. This also includes how important perks and benefits are given to the employees according to their performance. 

Creating incentive and recognition programs provides employees with a sense of value and boosts employee retention. You can use Payroll Software to make correct payments and other benefits to employees based on their performance. 

Also read: 6 Most Important Takeaways From 20 of the Biggest Productivity Studies

Provides business strategy

HRM for business strategy

Successful businesses must have a futuristic business plan as it helps the organization’s human resources match its objectives. An essential part of the business strategy process is played by the HR function, which also develops and implements programs to help employees get and develop the skills and competencies. 

The business strategy involves analyzing the future of the business and market, competitor analysis, and resources required for the new business plan. To work on business strategy goals, HR can make sure they have the right people in the right roles to achieve their objectives by coordinating their activities. 

Apart from assisting businesses in remaining competitive in a continuously evolving business environment, this also gives the company a clear direction and vision to work.

Final thoughts

HR is an important driver of growth and helps to compete in the market. For leveraging the full benefits of HR management HR Software can be the right choice. They help in attracting and retaining talent, managing and mitigating tasks, and more that helps businesses to compete and grow in the market. Always remember that investing in HR software is not about cost but an opportunity that helps businesses to succeed. 



Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How can the HR management function help a business?

Ans. HR management plays a vital role in businesses by overseeing recruitment, employee development, performance evaluation, and fostering a positive workplace culture. It ensures compliance with labor laws, resolves conflicts, and aligns HR strategies with business objectives, ultimately contributing to enhanced employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall company success.

Q2. Ways in which HR Management will be useful for a business:

Ans. HR Management offers valuable support to businesses through effective recruitment, skill development, performance management, and fostering a positive work environment. It ensures legal compliance, resolves issues, and aligns HR strategies with business goals, leading to increased employee satisfaction, productivity, and overall organizational success.

Q3. What is Human Resource Management?

Ans. Human Resource Management (HRM) is the strategic practice of overseeing an organization’s workforce. It involves tasks such as recruitment, employee training, performance evaluation, and fostering a positive work environment. HRM ensures compliance with labor laws and aligns human resource strategies with the company’s goals to optimize employee satisfaction and overall business success.

 


Author: Ravi Varma

I am Ravi Varma, A Digital Expert and blogger at We Suggest Software – A Leading Software Reviews and recommendations Platform Worldwide.


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6 Most Important Takeaways From 20 of the Biggest Productivity Studies

When it comes to productivity levels, most people have their ups and downs. And that’s completely normal. Especially when we take into account the fact that productivity is hugely impacted by a variety of factors like internal motivation and digital adoption.

However, it is also true that organizational success hugely depends on employee efficiency and engagement.

Survey data shows that the annual cost of low productivity adds up to a whopping $1.8 trillion a year. Knowing this, it quickly becomes evident that boosting performance is a must for any company looking to thrive.

Are you a small business owner or manager looking to support your team and help them do better work? This article looks at some of the biggest productivity studies and surveys, giving you data-based takeaways to build effective strategies for increasing output quantity and quality.

Employee Well-Being = Thriving Company Performance

Results of Employee wellbeing

One of the most important things you must understand about improving productivity levels is that it’s directly related to your employees’ well-being.

In fact, a survey from the Great Place To Work® Institute revealed that organizations whose employees are happy tend to perform more than three times better than their competitors.

But even if your goals don’t include tripling your revenue or stock market value, investing in employee experience genuinely pays off.

According to Gallup, people who are thriving outperform colleagues who are struggling or suffering. In fact, when your workers are miserable (even when they display high engagement rates at work), it is significantly more likely that your team will experience burnout. They’ll inevitably worry, stress, and report feelings of sadness and anger.

Of course, managers and business owners can’t (and shouldn’t) attempt to fix their employees’ personal lives. However, according to the biggest productivity studies, there is a lot that leaders can do to support workers to improve their well-being and boost their efficacy.

Also read: The Complete Guide To Employee Health And Wellbeing Strategy

Physical and Mental Health Must Come First

According to a 2019 scientific report, meaningful increases in employee well-being yield, on average, a 10% productivity increase. So, to boost employee productivity, pay attention to your team’s health and happiness.

  • Productivity studies show that people who get 5 to 6 hours of sleep achieve 19% lower productivity levels than those who get the recommended 7 to 8 hours per night.
  • Nutrition can also be impactful. The consensus is that both blood sugar and micronutrient levels affect efficiency, showing just how important it is for your team to take breakfast and lunch seriously and choose whole, micronutrient-rich foods instead of eating takeout at their desk.
  • In a recent study, HBR revealed that physical activity leads to better sleep quality, higher energy levels, and improved task focus. And seeing how these factors significantly impact job performance and creativity, it’s easy to see there’s a link.
  • Mental health also has tremendous implications for organizational productivity. A 2022 critical review of available literature found clear evidence that poor mental health (manifested as depression or anxiety) is directly correlated with lost productivity.

There are many different ways of helping your team achieve maximum health. You could focus on providing healthy office snacks. Or you could organize team-building activities that promote movement — paddleboarding is a great workout, for example. And the best thing is that by doing any of these things, you can influence your workforce to take better care of themselves without making it feel like a chore.

Also read: Wellbeing At Work – The Remote Edition [Infographic]

Flexibility Is the Name of the Game

work flexibility

The State of Remote Work 2022 report from OwlLabs is one of the more recent productivity studies revealing that flexibility is one of the key contributors to better work performance.

According to the research, 62% of people feel more productive when working from home. The location allows them to: 

But flexibility is not just about staying home and doing loads of laundry between Zoom meetings. 

An increasing number of young professionals are interested in exploring new flexible work modes. For instance, a recent survey discovered that 53% of Americans would be interested in taking a workcation — that is, to work from a holiday location.

The great news is that this is a relatively easy concession to make. Primarily, this is thanks to the wide availability of both hybrid business tools. Plus, international travel doesn’t have to be painfully expensive anymore either — you can now use tools like Google Flights to find cheap tickets

So, if you can support your employees in making their dream of living in Italy for a summer come true, why not do it? After all, data from the biggest productivity studies shows that happy people make for productive employees. So that’s a win-win.

Experiments Show That Less May Be More

Finally, when it comes to helping employees thrive, it’s essential to remember that working a lot doesn’t necessarily equal getting a lot done.

In fact, the 2023 report from 4 Day Week Global revealed that out of the 2,900 UK workers surveyed: 

  • 39% felt less stressed.
  • 71% had reduced levels of burnout.
  • 54% saw improvements in their work-life balance.
  • Company revenue rose, on average, by 1.4%.

These findings show that policies such as mandatory PTO or even just encouraging your team to use their vacation time can positively affect performance. 

In a recent article, HBR pointed out that just ten extra hours of time off improved employee year-end performance by 8%. Moreover, workers who used all their vacation time were more likely to get a promotion and less likely to quit their jobs.

Also read: Employee Happiness: 12 Ways To Keep Employees Happy

Embracing Technology Is More Than Just Being Trendy

Embracing Technology

In a world where new software solutions pop up daily, the idea of using technology to boost productivity may seem gimmicky. Because, yes, a new tool could improve a team’s output by 10% or 15%. But when there’s a steep learning curve involved, it can seem like the gains are not worth the effort.

Nonetheless, if you look at one of the biggest studies about tech and AI, you’ll find that these tools hold a lot of potential for improving productivity.

In fact, the Opportunities of Artificial Intelligence report published in 2020 found that one of the primary anticipated impacts of AI would be a 37% increase in labor productivity by 2035. Moreover, the implementation of AI and ML in organizations would drive innovation and growth. And contrary to naysayers’ beliefs, it would also create new jobs (instead of robots taking them over from humans).

So, what does this mean for leaders trying to support their employees in boosting productivity levels? The main takeaway is that future-oriented organizations must make it their mission to discover and use helpful tools to support their (human) workers in achieving exceptional results.

And the great thing is that there are numerous small and easy-to-implement ways to employ tech to drive productivity. From consulting interactive informational resources like the stocks chart from MarketBeat to signing up for services like Setapp, teams can make impressive wins. But only as long as they are prepared to adopt new tech in their pursuit of improving work outcomes and companywide performance.

Workplace Design Matters

Finally, when it comes to some of the most important takeaways from the biggest productivity studies, it’s important to mention that science has shown that work environments directly influence productivity levels.

In other words, the thousands of YouTube videos showing influencers sharing their work desk setups aren’t just a passing trend. Rather, they reflect the scientific fact that well-designed environments support good work.

  • For instance, setting the office thermostat to the right temperature could be the key to boosting productivity and minimizing errors. In fact, some productivity studies found that the ideal work conditions are in temperatures ranging from 68 to 86 degrees, with humidity levels between 20% and 60%.
  • Similarly impressive is the fact that air quality affects employees’ cognitive capacities. Poor ventilation and high levels of PM2.5 pollution slowed response times for workers and reduced their accuracy.
  • Improving environmental lighting quality is also an effective way to affect employees’ efficiency and well-being, according to a 2019 analysis.
  • And, of course, it’s also worth mentioning that some design choices — like adding plants to office spaces — don’t directly affect productivity. Nonetheless, they can lower people’s stress levels, which makes it easier to do efficient work by improving focus, boosting energy levels, heightening creativity, and lifting mood.
Also read: How to Build and Sustain Company Culture in a Hybrid Work Environment?

Conclusion

If you’ve decided to try and improve employee productivity using strategies derived from the biggest productivity studies, you’re on the right path. 

However, you must remember not to expect huge improvements. Because, yes, big productivity gains can be a good thing. But, as was the case during the pandemic, they can also be the side-effect of an unhealthy relationship with work, such as a poor work-life balance or presenteeism.

So, to guarantee that the gains your team makes stay consistent, aim for small headways. Yes, a 1% boost in productivity may not sound impressive. However, if it’s maintained over a 10-year period, it will be much better for your business than a temporary uptick followed by a crash.

While a lack of human connection may not be a factor AI can ever learn to overcome, there are solutions to ensure AI can surmount its current limitations in the career space. This includes using diverse and representative training data to limit biases and create a fairer and more inclusive candidate experience, and continuously monitoring and evaluating AI algorithms.

 


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Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the key points of employee productivity?

Ans. The key points of productivity include effective time management, goal clarity, task prioritization, continuous learning, and leveraging technology. Maintaining a healthy work-life balance and fostering a positive work environment also play vital roles in enhancing overall productivity.

Q2. Why is it important to study productivity?

Ans. Studying productivity is crucial as it enables individuals and businesses to optimize their time, resources, and efforts. By understanding productivity techniques, one can achieve more in less time, enhance efficiency, and achieve both personal and professional goals effectively.

Q3. What are the main factors that affect employee productivity?

Ans. The main factors influencing employee productivity include workplace environment, clear communication, task delegation, skill development, work-life balance, and job satisfaction. Addressing these factors positively can lead to improved employee engagement and overall organizational productivity.

 


Author: Natasha

Natasha-guest-post-writer

Natasha is a lady of a keyboard and one hell of a geek. She has been working for, and collaborating with, individual clients and companies of all sizes for more than a decade. Natasha specializes in writing about design, branding, digital marketing, and business growth. She is also addicted to art in all its forms and grilled tofu.


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Can AI Reduce Discrimination in the Recruitment Process?

In recent years, the integration and expansion of artificial intelligence (AI) in recruitment will be one of the top HR tech trends in 2023. The world has been praising AI as revolutionary to the hiring process, thanks to its potential to enhance efficiency, minimize human bias, and increase diversity in the workforce. 

However, like any innovation, implementing AI in the recruitment space comes with challenges. We’ll explore the advantages and disadvantages of using AI to reduce discrimination and foster impartial decision-making in the hiring process.

The advantages of AI 

AI advantages

Objective screening of thousands of resumes 

AI-powered recruitment tools are capable of conducting initial screenings based solely on the qualifications and skills of applicants. By analyzing specific criteria through keywords without any knowledge of personal attributes, AI systems help ensure a more objective evaluation of candidates

Additionally, AI takes the tedious aspect out of screening hundreds of resumes by automating the screening process. AI-powered applicant tracking systems (ATS) are increasingly used to do this so hiring managers can find qualified candidates more quickly and easily. 

In fact, ATS allows you to search and filter applicants by using – or excluding – specific keywords so you can choose from a smaller pool of qualified candidates. This capability ultimately shortens the hiring process. 

Also read: 5 Ways You Can Use AI in Sales

Limiting unconscious bias 

Human decision-making is often influenced by unconscious biases, which can unconsciously lead to discriminatory hiring practices. As an example, 71% of recruiters admit they rejected a candidate because of their LinkedIn profile picture at least once. AI, being an impartial algorithm, helps eliminate these biases and the possibility of prejudice affecting the hiring decision. 

Incorporating AI into the recruitment process can also play a crucial role in supporting a robust diversity recruiting strategy. By removing the possibility of bias at the early stages of candidate selection, AI allows companies to focus on qualifications and skills, opening up opportunities for a more diverse range of candidates to be considered for the positions.

This in turn allows for greater diversity in the pool of applicants and can limit bias influencing during the early-stage candidate selection. So while hiring managers can eliminate resumes based on lack of qualifications, skills, or even location, factors such as gender and ethnicity won’t enter the hiring decision at this point. 

 AI has the potential to break the cycle of discriminatory hiring practices many companies are trying to break free of, but there’s one caveat: AI is only as strong as its data learning. 

Also read: Use of AI in Performance Reviews

The disadvantages of AI today

AI disadvantages

Algorithmic bias isn’t completely eliminated – yet

Despite its potential for impartiality and its ability to limit humans’ unconscious biases, AI isn’t completely immune to it. Because AI systems learn from humans, there are times when AI has expressed bias because of the training data used to develop its model.

Algorithmic bias is due to several factors, including biased training data, flawed algorithms, and inadequate diversity in the development teams. While AI training will improve over time as these root causes are addressed, it’s important that individuals in decision-making roles stay vigilant when selecting candidates. 

Lack of contextual understanding

Although AI is highly capable of analyzing structured data and can help hiring managers sift through resumes based on keywords, it often lacks the ability to understand profiles with an atypical background. This is due to its inability to understand the complexity and the subtlety of human experiences.

Such a shortcoming can lead to misinterpreting candidate qualifications, eventually leading to discrimination. Contextual understanding is essential in assessing a candidate’s potential, especially for positions that require unique skills or adaptability. To ensure hiring managers are making the fairest evaluations they can, it’s essential to acknowledge AI’s limits in interpreting human experiences and emotions. 

Also read: Performance Evaluation Software For The Healthcare Sector

Compounded effects of incomplete data in AI learning

As mentioned earlier, AI systems rely heavily on training data to make predictions and decisions. If the training data is incomplete or biased, it can further perpetuate human-taught biases and slow down progress to make the workplace more diverse and inclusive. 

Additionally, there could be essential points missing from the data used in training, which can lead to inadequate evaluations due to the AI’s misunderstanding of a given situation. This further perpetuates instances of discrimination.

Lack of human connection

AI-driven recruitment processes can lack the human touch that candidates appreciate during interactions, which may make them feel disengaged if their initial interactions are solely with AI systems. This feeling of disengagement could potentially impact their perception of the company’s culture and values, negatively affecting the company’s ability to identify and hire top talent. 

According to a study conducted by Resume Genius, 78% of survey respondents believed that no recruitment process should be conducted without a human who coordinates it. After all, many candidates aren’t driven by the need to fulfill a job’s basic requirements and qualifications, but they are interested in additional factors such as values, personal drive, work ethic, and how they align with the company’s mission.  

The lack of human connection could remove these factors from the initial candidate filtering process, potentially affecting the quality of the AI-selected candidates.

Ethical concerns surrounding AI learning

The use of AI in recruitment raises ethical questions, particularly regarding privacy, data protection, and transparency. AI systems may process sensitive personal information, and companies must ensure compliance with data regulations to maintain trust with candidates.

While a lack of human connection may not be a factor AI can ever learn to overcome, there are solutions to ensure AI can surmount its current limitations in the career space. This includes using diverse and representative training data to limit biases and create a fairer and more inclusive candidate experience, and continuously monitoring and evaluating AI algorithms.

Also read: Hello from Marissa™ AI – Your AI Enablement Coach

Companies should be ready to continuously analyze and evaluate AI performance so as to take corrective action accordingly. By implementing ongoing monitoring and evaluation mechanisms, companies can ensure that AI systems remain aligned with diversity and inclusion goals.

AI offers promising advantages in reducing discrimination in the recruitment process, including objective screening, limited unconscious bias, enhanced candidate matching, and consistency in decision-making. However, addressing AI’s current challenges such as algorithmic bias, lack of contextual understanding, and incomplete data is essential to maximize its potential for creating a more diverse and people-centric workplace. overall performance management system.

 



Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. Why use AI for Recruitment?

Ans. Discover the Benefits of Using AI for Recruitment. Streamline your hiring process, improve candidate matching, and save time with AI-powered tools. Learn how artificial intelligence enhances recruitment outcomes.

Q2. How to reduce the effects of AI bias in hiring?

Ans. To reduce AI bias in hiring, start by diversifying your training data, testing algorithms for bias, and regularly refining the model. Implement transparency, offer human oversight, and promote continuous monitoring. These steps help create fairer and more equitable hiring practices using AI.

Q3. Can artificial intelligence reduce hiring bias?

Ans. Yes, artificial intelligence can help reduce hiring bias. By analyzing data objectively, AI can minimize human biases that often influence hiring decisions. Implementing AI tools that anonymize candidate information, standardize evaluations, and monitor for fairness can lead to more equitable and unbiased recruitment processes.


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AI hiring bias examples

5 Tips to Boost Your Small Business’ Productivity

It’s no secret that improving employee productivity is crucial to a small business’ success, in fact for all businesses. But for small businesses, it can often be challenging to make the right changes to improve efficiencies and increase profits. So how do you balance productivity with cost-effectiveness and maximize results?

Small businesses have several options for getting more done faster and cheaper. But suppose you want to see real, measurable improvements in your day-to-day operations. In that case, you may need to assess where your company could use additional support — especially when it comes to tracking employee performance. That’s where employee time trackers come into the picture.

How to Improve Employees’ Productivity

Improve productivity for Small businesses

One of the most effective ways to improve employee productivity is to hire people with the right skills for the job rather than relying solely on resumes. Hiring experienced and knowledgeable employees can help ensure tasks are completed quickly and efficiently.

Providing employees with the right technology and education by attending relevant seminars or taking a course can also help to increase productivity. Technology such as time trackers can track employee activities, allowing them to monitor their productivity and adjust accordingly.

Below are the five effective ways small businesses can use time trackers to improve their productivity — while helping employees become more efficient.

Also Read: Employee Experience vs. Employee Productivity: Does One Affect the Other?

Implement an Online Time Clock App for Accurate Time Tracking

Implementing an online free clock-in clock-out app is essential when improving a small business’s productivity. These apps help track attendance, timesheets, and labor costs and export payroll data while enabling many other features through which a custom report can also be created.

For instance, the GPS tracking feature can record employee location when they clock in and out of their work day. This can be extremely helpful for businesses that need a better handle on where their employees are at any given moment.

Time clock apps can also help businesses manage employee scheduling and time tracking. It can also help in task management and payroll with ease. Accurate employee time tracking allows business owners to build schedules around employee availability. They can assign tasks based on individual strengths. Furthermore, these apps can calculate worked hours and prepare detailed reports for accurate payroll processing at the end of the month.

Online time clock apps are a definite must for any small business looking to improve productivity and save time in the long run.

Set Clear Goals and Key Performance Indicators (KPIs) for Employees

Goals and KPIs provide measurable targets to track progress and efficiency. When it comes to performance-based metrics, KPIs are the standard. KPIs are quantifiable metrics used to measure progress toward a goal. 

They should be aligned with the business strategy, attainable, acute (easily measured and monitored), accurate (consistent), actionable (immediate or short-term), and alive (reviewed regularly).

Examples of KPIs include Voluntary Attrition, Employee Net Promoter Score (NPS), and Quarterly Sales Goals. Establishing these metrics throughout every level of the organization motivates employees. 

It also creates accountability for everyone on the team. NPS measures employee satisfaction by rating their performance on a scale from 1 to 10. While Quarterly Sales Goals help check whether groups meet their desired target sales. Setting clear goals for employees to reach helps managers determine how productive their staff is.

Also Read: OKR vs. KPI: Differences And Importance

Provide Adequate Training and Learning Opportunities

Providing adequate training and learning opportunities for employees will lead to improved productivity and higher staff retention. Training is a crucial factor for small businesses to stimulate proactive thinking. This can include onboarding, company culture training, leadership development, and even industry-specific skills.

The idea of providing training and learning opportunities is two-fold. It helps to build employee skill sets allowing them to stay current with new technology and systems. At the same time, it also gives them a chance to show initiative in the workplace. Both are important for improving staff morale.

Building a learning culture in small businesses has benefits. It can include better employee engagement and an understanding that their work matters within the business. This gives employees an environment where they can thrive. They can experiment with creative ideas and collaborate with different departments or colleagues. This leads to greater productivity.

Conduct Regular Performance Reviews and Feedback

Regular performance reviews and feedback can play a fundamental role in improving employee productivity for small businesses. Most companies have abandoned traditional performance reviews. However, many argue that feedback given during regular assessments can enhance employee performance. 

Performance reviews help maintain a healthy and positive company culture. It also allows employers to identify areas where employees need improvement. It can help in training them to manage their workloads better. Moreover, it helps employees feel supported. Knowing that their employers are invested in their success. And that they are available to offer constructive feedback when needed. 

Some tips for conducting effective performance reviews include:

  1. Be clear on the goals you set for each review.
  2. Allow employees time to share their thoughts on past accomplishments and present challenges.
  3. Always finish by providing constructive criticism and areas for improvement.
  4. Ensure a two-way dialog with both parties listening to exchange views.

Motivate Employees through Recognition and Rewards

One way to motivate employees to become more productive is by recognizing and rewarding them. A simple thank you, or a few words of encouragement can make employees feel appreciated. It can act as an incentive for them to continue working hard.

Moreover, rewards can reinforce good behavior and motivate employees to continue their best efforts. It can be bonuses, time off, gift cards, or recognition awards. The rewards don’t have to be extravagant. Something as small as a gift card or words of appreciation can go a long way in recognizing hard work. Rewards help boost morale and encourage employees to strive for higher productivity levels.

All people want to feel that their contributions are appreciated and rewarded. Businesses foster an environment conducive to higher performance levels by recognizing individual accomplishments. Recognizing employees‘ achievements boosts morale and motivation. This encourages them to continue striving for excellence. 

Also Read: Engagedly + Meta Workplace: Elevate Rewards and Recognition to New Heights

Challenges of Small Startup Companies when Having Remote Workers

Remote work - Challenges of Small businesses

Small startups tackling the remote working model for the first time might face a few challenges.

Communication is a Key Challenge

Communication is a crucial challenge for startup businesses. Especially when it comes to remote work arrangements. With tech-based solutions, it’s easy to keep everyone in the loop for communications.  But to do so, you need to ensure that everyone uses the same tools. This requires trial and error and training.

Remote Employees Requires Additional Consideration

When it comes to remote employees, there are more considerations you’ll need to take into account. Like job descriptions and communication style preferences. You’ll also need to consider handling work interaction without having an office space. Consider a place where workers can physically meet up and collaborate.

Remote Work Can Lead to Overworking, Isolation and Communication Breakdown

Remote work can lead to overworking. This is due to a lack of boundaries. Isolation also happens due to a lack of physical interaction with colleagues. Breakdowns in communication can occur when stakeholders need to learn how or when they can access your remote team. To avoid these issues, clear expectations must be set from the start. Regular check-ins are carried out with remote workers and on-site team members.

Final Thoughts

Implementing a few of the practices outlined in this article can improve employee productivity for your small business. Introducing a time clock app or setting boundaries for work hours can create a more efficient work environment. It can also promote productivity among employees. 

Ultimately, it’s worth the effort to optimize the workplace to improve the success and productivity of the business.

Also Read: The Essential Guide To Employee Productivity In A Hybrid Setup


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is employee productivity for small business?

Ans. Employee productivity for small business is the efficiency of workers in achieving business goals and completing tasks effectively.

Q2. How to improve employee productivity for small businesses?

Ans. To improve employee productivity for small businesses, focus on clear goals, training, engagement, work-life balance, efficient communication, proper tools, recognition, time management, streamlined processes, and teamwork.

Q3. Why focus on improving employee productivity for small businesses?

Ans. Focusing on improving employee productivity for small businesses boosts efficiency, competitiveness, and profitability, leading to better customer satisfaction and business growth.


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Complete Guide by HR Experts: Best Practices for Effective Onboarding

Employee onboarding is one of the most crucial steps in the hiring process. The critical onboarding process ensures new hires have the information, abilities, and attitude necessary to fit in with the company. Onboarding best practices entail giving a new hire the resources and knowledge to contribute effectively to the team and introducing them to the company and its culture.

According to the statistics on customer service onboarding, companies with the best onboarding process experienced a 60% increase in revenue from the previous year. Onboarding is also the first brand impression an employee gets; if it’s bad, employees won’t stay long.

It is estimated that 17% of employees quit between the first and third months of a new job if they don’t experience a good onboarding process.

Thus, it is crucial for HR professionals to create an effective onboarding process for the company’s growth. We have compiled a new employee onboarding guide to help you understand the best onboarding practices.

What Is the Onboarding Process?

A new hire should pay close attention to onboarding since it is their first experience getting to know the organizational values and their team members. Employee onboarding is meant to familiarize them with all the required tools, bring them up to speed on important initiatives, and prepare them for success in their new position.

The best method to welcome and keep new staff is to have a solid onboarding procedure.

As per a survey, 33% of employees leave their jobs within the first 90 days, which raises the cost of recruiting and hiring.

With onboarding best practices, they are more likely to feel engaged with the organization, enhancing performance and motivating workers to stay with the firm longer.

Also Read: Onboarding Survey and How to Conduct it

Onboarding Best Practices Guide – Easy-to-Follow Steps

The onboarding process is one of the most important aspects of ensuring newly hired personnel will be successful, satisfied workers. One study found that 51% of workers would go “above and beyond” at work if they had a positive onboarding experience. So, here is the onboarding process checklist for making your new hires’ onboarding process smoother:

Optimize the hiring process

Optimize the hiring process

To remain competitive in a difficult, candidate-driven job market, it is essential to identify ineffective and outdated processes. You don’t want to make a poor first impression on new joiners.

According to Forbes, 88% of the workforce think they don’t receive a quality onboarding program.

Many HR professionals make the common mistake of not contacting the employee after sending them the offer letter. As a result, it gives the candidate the impression that the management is not interested in taking the hiring process forward. Thus, ensure staying in touch with candidates before, during, and after onboarding to alleviate their fears regarding the job.

Additionally, you should begin onboarding when your employee receives their offer letter. Giving new employees access to the necessary resources for performance, such as laptops, internet connection, and more, can help you create a positive impression on candidates, so ensure everything is set up in advance. For example:

  • Keep the employee’s workstation ready.
  • Get all the paperwork done before joining.
  • Set up their work email and login credentials. 
  • Ask them for all the necessary information you require, such as their address, phone number, emergency contact information, etc. 
Also Read: Hiring Advice: Staffing and Employment Trends for 2023

Welcome the new hires

Expressing special gratitude to employees for joining your company would be excellent. Making new hires feel at home and comfortable in their new surroundings is your responsibility and the finest practice for your onboarding.

Your new hires will undoubtedly undergo numerous paperwork on their first day, so be patient and don’t rush anything. Moreover, ensure that new hires thoroughly understand the company’s processes. Whatever you do, let your welcome offerings showcase the company’s cultural identity.

Set up an orientation program

Set up an orientation program

Employee orientation is essential to ensure the new worker aligns with the company’s objectives. Accurate and thorough employee orientation is essential to giving employees the direction they need to approach their new work. Thus, create a written document or visual presentation that prospective employees can read to inform them about the company’s history and culture.

The new hire will likely lose interest if they are unprepared or confused about their task. To make employees confident and engaged, welcome and answer their questions and concerns.

Establish a thorough onboarding schedule

New employees will quickly lose motivation if they have no task to complete in the first few days. Therefore, it’s smart to plan and follow a predetermined timetable for each hire the first week before settling them into their regular tasks.

A detailed schedule aids in making new employees feel comfortable on their first day of work. Your onboarding calendar should include various activities to let new hires meet their coworkers and learn more about their team members and dynamics.

Assign a buddy mentor

Giving your new team member a buddy gives them a safe space to learn about your company’s procedures, work environment, and their day-to-day job. By designating a “buddy mentor,” you demonstrate to the employee that you are prepared to help them adapt to their new position and duties.

Newcomers must feel comfortable asking questions about the culture and team to their buddy mentor. Thus, it would be ideal if the mentor were a colleague rather than a direct manager or supervisor. Additionally, ensure the person you choose for this position has a helping attitude.

Also Read: Mentoring Complete Integration with Engagedly

Organize essential training

Organize essential training

Organizational training is essential because it enables new hires to become familiar with their surroundings, coworkers, and assigned tasks. Employees must have the resources to keep learning to advance their careers and provide fruitful outcomes for your company.

Employees can regularly attend frequent skills evaluations, structured training videos, certification programs, and lunch-and-learn seminars.

Schedule regular check-ins

A fantastic technique to make sure the onboarding procedure goes successfully is to schedule check-ins with the manager and the new employee in one-on-ones. HR personnel must be the new employee’s point of contact to whom they can ask difficult questions they might feel uncomfortable asking the management.

During the check-in, don’t forget to thank the employee for their contributions and ask if they require extra training or assistance regarding work. Regular check-ins can make a difference between an employee who stays on board for a long time and one who leaves early.

Also Read: Social Flow of Work: Enhance Digital Real-Time Collaboration with Engagedly

Get senior leaders involved

While new employees might not frequently engage with senior leaders, they must understand who they work for. Try to include senior team members as much as possible in the onboarding procedure.

The directors or senior managers might offer employees a tour of the office, take them out to lunch, provide a quick summary of the company’s history, or even lead a compulsory training session. Such quality time helps break down hierarchy barriers and increases openness and comfort in the workplace.

Get the new employee’s opinion

Get the new employee's opinion

Your new employee would usually be equipped with new perspectives and recent experiences from other businesses. Thus, asking them for input on your operations, procedures, and improvement areas might enhance your company’s onboarding. Additionally, with seamless feedback software, you may create surveys, allowing new hires to share their honest opinions anonymously.

Use technology to combat challenges

Employee connection and communication may suffer when working remotely. Thus, the role of HR in the onboarding process is crucial. Work efficiency and accountability are a couple of prevalent difficulties with remote workers.

It is crucial to give your remote workers the tools they need to succeed during the virtual onboarding process. With the help of remote work collaboration, the following easy recommendations might help employers recruit remote workers:

  • Invite the employee to a virtual welcoming meeting to introduce themselves to the team. 
  • Arrange a 2-week on-site orientation for the new remote worker if it is possible for them to arrive at the workplace. As a result, they will interact with everyone in person and get to know the company’s employees better.
  • Ensure your new employee has received and can set up any required equipment.
  • Consider recording training sessions so the new hire can review them later.
Also Read: 8 Best Strategies To Improve Global Remote Employee Experience

Summing Up

A successful onboarding process is essential for new employees. Smooth onboarding requires time, effort, and cross-departmental cooperation to make the new hire comfortable in your organization. Onboarding must be flexible to adapt to organizational changes. With onboarding best practices, you will prepare new employees for success, benefiting the business and the team.

Engagedly helps align and motivate employees to level up your workforce with ease. Among the best features of Engagedly are goal-setting, manager feedback, peer recognition, idea generation, knowledge sharing/e-learning, rewards, objectives alignment (OKR), and social performance. Our platform is the best-automated tool for promoting employee engagement effectively. Contact a consultation today!



Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is an onboarding checklist?

Ans. A way for hiring managers to organize the duties needed to support new hires during their first few weeks and months at a company is known as an onboarding checklist.

Q2. What makes onboarding crucial?

Ans. An onboarding program is crucial for getting new employees started in their careers with your company. It helps the company complete all employee-related formalities and formally introduce employees to the business.

Q3. What is a good onboarding procedure?

Ans. A good onboarding procedure involves the following:

  • A checklist officializing the hire
  • Concluding a background investigation if required
  • Determining the schedule and job responsibilities
  • Preparing and completing necessary new hire forms

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A Guide to Employee Risk Management

In the dynamic landscape of modern workplaces, organizations striving for success continually encounter new challenges. Failing to adapt and implement necessary changes can result in adverse outcomes such as employee attrition, a damaged reputation, and regulatory issues. Employee risk management emerges as an inevitable aspect that is challenging to eliminate entirely. However, companies can proactively adopt specific practices to anticipate potential risks, thereby reducing the likelihood of risks materializing and mitigating potential damages.

What Makes Employee Risk Management So Important?

Other than the aforementioned consequences, risk management also helps with the overall productivity of an organization.

Imagine how focused a worker can be if potential risks are on their mind while working. Creating a cohesive work environment is an unreasonable aspiration under such circumstances.

Of course, given how popular a hybrid work model and remote working are in general, those who stay at home do not face immediate threats that occur in-house. They have an easier time focusing. 

On the other hand, it does not mean that remote workers can rest easy knowing that they can avoid possible risks.

If anything, the employee risk area list goes beyond what is just happening on-site. Organizations have to consider multiple factors that make a monolith, that is, the workforce. 

Also Read: 3 Proven Ways to Boost Employee Productivity

The List of Key Employee Risk Areas

Key Areas - Risk Management

Development

It is in the hands of human resources to ensure employees are equipped with the necessary skills and tools to carry out their tasks.

By dedicating themselves, workers also expect to get something in return, i.e., career opportunities. 

The risk is in the failure to provide the development at the right time or providing it only to a select few. The latter, especially, reflects poorly and creates friction within the workforce.

Ethics

Disputes between peers or employees and upper management may result due to poor ethical practices.

Some organizations might take the risk of choosing one candidate over another because of religion, sexuality, or gender. 

Such a mindset signals that the organization has problems when it comes to ethics. One of the most prominent hazards associated with HR risk management is to encourage and implement equal opportunity hiring, which leads to a more non-discriminatory work environment.

Safety Laws

Many people associate work risks with various incidents that lead to physical injuries. At the same time, there is also a bigger emphasis on the mental employee state. 

It is crucial to ensure that an organization’s policies and activities are in line with local regulations. Moreover, since the law gets updated on a regular basis, keeping up with the changes and implementing them can be tricky.

Security and Privacy

Cybersecurity is another headache for many organizations. Data breaches occur without prior warning, so it is imperative to have a proper system in place to prevent the risks.

Both employee and client data have to be stored safely. Also, people in charge of handling the information have to be held to a high standard considering the repercussions of misusing data.

Workforce

The general functioning of an organization’s workforce in relation to employee engagement with peers and the company itself also poses multiple challenges.

Conflicts, burnouts, the sense of unfulfilled expectations, and other similar issues are an obstacle preventing a productive environment. 

Also Read: The Go To Guide To Perfecting The Employee Engagement Survey

Employee Benefits

No employee will work for free. They expect to get a salary that justifies their qualifications and the effort put into carrying out the work. 

Besides, it is not just a salary. Benefits come in different forms, and it is up to the employer to find out what the workers need. Otherwise, the risk of having some of your employees leave for a competitor increases.

Structural Changes

Structural changes vary from small to significant. A department may promote someone from outside or within. Alternatively, a company could merge or get acquired, which poses serious questions to consider for the staff involved.

It helps when there is enough time to prepare for everything, but there are still different risks, such as someone deciding that they do not want to continue working in the organization just before the change.

Disruptions are a nuisance when transitioning to a new structure, and it is no wonder that so many organizations struggle.

Creating an Effective Employee Risk Management Strategy

effective employee risk management strategy

Understanding where the risks lie is part of the management, but you also have to create an effective strategy. Let’s take a look at how the process should be.

Assessing the risks

The first step should be assessing the current risks in the organization. Looking back at the history of what was the biggest problem helps in planning and preparing in advance. 

If a company has few problems to take care of, they will have an easier time than those who have a plethora of risky areas.

The sense of feeling overwhelmed can be crippling, but even that is possible to overcome if you break problems down one by one.

Sometimes, companies see a risk and question how likely it is to actually occur. Or whether the consequences are detrimental enough. For instance, if you have to invest more money in a security system than the losses that would occur in case of a hazard, financially, that does not make sense.

However, safety and employee risk management, or rather prevention, should be a priority. The assessment should not be about cutting costs. 

Identifying suitable precautions

Precautions are a safety net that exists in case of a threat becoming an actual problem. Different organizations have different models and areas, so they have to adjust accordingly.

Putting enough effort into finding the risks means it is easier to find precautions. Some implementations will be company-wide. Others, meanwhile, will involve individual employees and departments.

Personal advice is heavily encouraged as well, particularly when it comes to senior employees or those from another department who specialize in a particular subject.

Take IT, for example; let’s say someone receives a new MacBook for work but does not know how to delete apps on Mac that won’t delete. Such issues can cause one to think that there is a potential malware threat, and who knows what that could lead to, especially if the device has sensitive data on it or is part of a bigger network.

Checking in with someone who understands such things should be a heavily encouraged policy throughout the organization. Not only does it identify potential risks, but it also leads to finding solutions.

Also Read: The Importance of Workplace Environment in Employee Engagement

Establishing a monitoring system

What follows after assessing the risks and finding solutions is a monitoring system. There should be a constant assessment of what is going on. 

It will require additional resources, but the step is inevitable to ensure that the risks are minimized. At the end of the day, there is only so much that supervisors can do.

A monitoring system will also answer whether the risks are managed better. Registering incidents and seeing the trend of how the numbers change over time is a worthwhile investment.

Monitoring also lets organizations observe how specific risks affect different employees/departments. 

Finally, by having a bigger picture, companies can determine whether people within the organization require additional training. Lack of communication, personal skills, and other areas can and should be improved if it helps with the overall organizational risk management.

Seeking new solutions

Staying ahead of the curve is an excellent piece of advice for risk control. An effective system in place is great, but it does not mean that organizations should give up on an idea to improve it.

Perhaps an employee comes up with something from their personal experience and shares what could have been done to avoid a problem.

Keeping an eye on the industry and learning from the troubles of other organizations are also worthwhile considerations. Instead of waiting for a risk to get to you, be proactive and introduce preventive measures.

Conclusion

To sum it all up, organizations have to create a strategy that prevents or minimizes risks so that employees can focus on their work instead of pondering what might happen.

There are multiple sources for potential risks, but it is to be expected, given how volatile everything is these days. 

At the same time, though, changes also mean new and improved means to fend off the risks, and that is what organizations should take advantage of when working on applications of risk management and prevention.

Also Read: Best Employee Engagement Strategies for Better Workplace

Employee Career Development


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is employee risk management?

Ans. Employee risk management can be defined as a business aspect of ensuring that people within the organization can focus on the work instead of worrying about risks that are present in the environment.

Q2. Why must organizations work on reducing potential risks?

Ans. A risk-free work environment means that employees can focus on what matters the most—carrying out the tasks given to them. This leads to a functioning and productive organization that achieves its goals.

Q3. How to create an effective strategy to reduce potential risks?

Ans. An effective strategy should be based on risk assessment, precaution identification, constant monitoring, and seeking new solutions.

Since different companies have different pain points to worry about, there is no universal answer to how a risk management strategy should be carried out. Instead, organizations have to take already established and effective methods and apply them accordingly while making adjustments along the way and looking for better alternatives.

HR Virtual Summits 2023: Benefits, Importance, and Future

Virtual events have provided businesses and individuals with a socializing lifeline in a world turned upside down by the COVID-19 epidemic.

In 2022, 40% of corporate events were virtual, up 5% from 2020, according to a poll of marketers globally.

HR conferences were among the many offline activities that shifted to online in 2020. An organized event known as a “virtual summit” brings together staff members, clients, and stockholders worldwide in an online platform to discuss certain subjects related to their sector. This method has gained popularity and has become a potent tool for businesses and entrepreneurs. In this article, we will learn about what is HR virtual summit, its importance, takeaways, and more in detail.

What Is an HR Virtual Summit?

What Is an HR Virtual Summit

HR virtual summit is the largest virtual event in the world, connecting and elevating HR professionals. The virtual HR summit’s main focus is developing HR leaders’ executive presence. This online conference aims to equip HR leaders with the resources and encouragement to transform their teams and businesses.

These summits don’t involve travel, and the financial investment is minimal. Therefore, new and existing businesses may take advantage of the chance to expand their networks and communicate with a wide audience. HR virtual summit focuses on high-quality educational materials and speaker sessions rather than promotional content.

It is imperative to attend these conferences to gain insight into how to adjust to today’s rapidly evolving work environment from HR specialists who are experienced in the industry.

Also read: 7 Examples of People Operations OKRs/ HR OKRs

Future of HR Virtual Summit

According to Gartner, remote work and shifting worker demographics will cause in-person meetings to decline from 60% to 25% by 2024. By 2028, the market for virtual events will likely rise at a compound annual growth rate of 23.7% from its estimated value of $114.12 billion in 2021.

With such technological changes, HR is also witnessing a highly observed transformation where tech tools and human innovation combine to exponentially increase HR’s business influence. Rapid technology breakthroughs continue to change the business landscape. The HR virtual summit is emerging as a source of knowledge and inspiration.

HR virtual summit intends to spark a revolutionary transformation in how we work, using the power of technology and unleashing the enormous potential of the human workforce.

Importance of HR Virtual Summit

HR Virtual Summit Importance

HR virtual summit provides excellent opportunities to advance your professional growth and improve your company’s HR procedures. There are many benefits of the HR virtual summit, like the following:

Showcases Industry Expertise

HR events are a fantastic way to increase your understanding of the field. Esteemed experienced professionals from reputed companies talk at the greatest HR conferences. These workshops offer insightful information about top-tier HR procedures.

You can move outside the cocoon of your firm and acquire a comprehensive understanding of the sector by interacting with HR experts in industries other than yours. Continually expanding your knowledge will increase your value proposition to your company.

According to a UK study, 89% of employers believe successful employees must be able to learn new things throughout their lives.

Saves Money and Time

While face-to-face interaction is lost in a virtual summit, the session can provide a more practical means of participating. For instance, you can participate in the sessions from anywhere as the entire event is online. As a result, attending a summit no longer requires troublesome and time-consuming travel, dressing up, or focusing an entire day’s schedule on the seminar.

Virtual summits allow you to watch the sessions while participating in all the discussion areas. Additionally, with a virtual HR summit, entering and exiting any online event spaces, networking lounges, and session rooms is simple.

Expands Your Professional Network

Networking with people in your industry is essential, as these relationships might help you and your business in the future with advice, finances, marketing, and more. Consider the HR virtual summit a chance to strike up a dialogue with those in your business that you may not have previously had the opportunity to work with.

One can network with hundreds of HR specialists while learning about market trends, practical tactics, and revolutionizing practices. You can network with business executives at the HR virtual summit, get professional advice, schedule strategic meetings, and create contacts for future collaborations.

Also read: Communication Is The Key Through Any Crisis

Provides Access to Resources

One of the best online places to find relevant HR industry knowledge is virtual summits. Attending an HR virtual conference may teach you all you need to know about HR strategies from experts. You’ll study tried-and-true techniques, best practices, insider tactics, and professional guidance while receiving trustworthy, well-assembled resources.

Additionally, you can pick up fresh information through conversations with other participants and apply it to your operations and business circumstances. Since many online summits are free, you need only invest your time and effort to access useful information, tools, and insights.

Offers Workplace Solutions

The best virtual HR summit features top presenters who explore the most important issues HR faces and share their knowledge on addressing them. These topics addressed in the HR summit may be relevant to your company’s situation.

You can also observe the latest goods or services that HR tech businesses have to offer, thanks to the live demos presented at the virtual HR summit. Thus, when you return to work, you’ll have a brand-new set of solutions with fresh tactics and technology.

Takeaways from HR Virtual Summit

Takeaways from HR Virtual Summit

More than ever, organizations now require personnel who can make decisions quickly and flexibly to better respond to changing circumstances. Let’s look at the top four HR virtual summit takeaways that will help the entire HR industry:

Organizational structure should be powerful

High levels of staff retention and production and individuals exchanging fresh concepts and coming up with innovative ideas are characteristics of an appealing company. More businesses are having trouble filling vacant positions. Many employees have quit their occupations in large numbers during the past year; they now choose their organizations carefully and deliberately.

Effective leadership is about recognizing this trend and always developing your talents as a people leader – not just a business leader. You can’t just fire people, replace them, and believe your company will function effectively.

Also read: Gender Equality Challenges in Leadership and How to Overcome Them

Employees demand a safe workplace

Organizations must learn the significance of psychological safety and trust in the workplace. Psychological safety includes feeling secure enough to take risks and share ideas socially. In contrast, trust entails feeling at ease and being vulnerable with another person about your opinions.

Organizations should emphasize proactive leadership, good communication, and a commitment to DEI (diversity, equity, and inclusion) to foster trust and psychological safety. Educating managers on dealing with actions that weaken psychological safety and trust is crucial. Moreover, a thorough performance management system can enhance psychological safety and trust inside a company.

Use technology to innovate and stand out

Even while innovation is on the rise, some people (and organizations) are anxious about using too much technology at work. While the significance of manual touch in some work types exists, we cannot dismiss the time and cost savings that technology brings. It’s time for HR to comprehend the practical implications of adopting new technology.

HR departments must also discuss how advanced analytics may improve employee experience, provide a talent-centric perspective on problems, support laws, and regulations, and speed up internal operations.

Employ a human-centered approach

Building compassion, curiosity, and the courage to stay with employees during difficult emotional situations are the first steps in a human-centered approach. These abilities are fundamental to an organization’s culture, leadership development, well-being, and mental health. Since we have been taught that expressing vulnerability may be viewed as a weakness, people frequently conceal their feelings. In actuality, individuals must be open to vulnerability in all spheres of life, including their job. However, employees cannot do so unless their leaders exhibit this humanness, making the organization and teams robotic.

Summing Up

A virtual HR summit provides a collaborative environment stimulating networking and idea exchange with a carefully chosen program. This informative seminar includes interesting panel discussions, exciting keynote addresses, and interactive sessions. No matter how experienced or inexperienced you are in the HR field, participating in virtual summits has many benefits for you and your enterprise.

You may interact with and learn from industry experts, build your network, meet company executives and other key contacts, and receive access to useful (and usually free) content and resources. The best part is all this from the convenience of your home or workplace through online summits. 

When it comes to performance management trends, Engagedly is well-versed. All users, including employees, managers, CEOs, and administrators, can be engaged with our modern, customizable design. So, join us and level up your workforce with Engagedly!



Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is the importance of a virtual HR summit?

Ans. Through tailored networking opportunities and on-the-moment attendee insights, a virtual HR summit assists HR professionals in identifying future trends, setting priorities, seizing opportunities, and concentrating on important recruitment, hiring, and onboarding strategies.

Q2. Who can benefit from an HR virtual summit?

Ans. A virtual HR summit is designed for HR leaders who want to further their careers beyond HR certifications. People wishing to obtain knowledge from experienced colleagues and mentors who have successfully risen through the ranks in HR can sign up.

Q3. What is the future of virtual HR summits?

Ans. The HR domain is witnessing high technological changes. The HR virtual summit aims to use technology’s power and the huge potential of the human workforce to unleash a revolutionary change in how we work.

 


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How To Build A Performance Oriented Culture In Your Organization

Whenever you take a look at companies that perform exceedingly well, time after time, year after year, you will find that there’s one factor behind it. And that is a performance-oriented culture.

A culture of high performance can be an incredibly motivating force and change the course of an organization. But how does focusing on performance orientation in an organization’s culture help? For one, a culture of high performance does not just spring out of the woodwork in the organization.

Continue reading “How To Build A Performance Oriented Culture In Your Organization”

Use of AI in Performance Reviews

As the years go by, our relationship with technology changes. Emerging techs like artificial intelligence can assist human resources to empower their workforce. This makes annual team assessment effective and less stressful and gives optimal results to understand what’s next and how to bring improvements. 

Gartner forecasted how artificial intelligence is to pick up speed, with a 21.3% of growth rate in 2022 than 2021. 

What is an AI Performance Review? 

AI Performance Review is a modern approach to employee evaluations that leverages artificial intelligence technology to assess and analyze an employee’s performance. It involves using AI algorithms to gather and analyze data from various sources, such as work productivity metrics, feedback from colleagues, and self-assessments.

The AI system provides more objective and data-driven insights, enabling organizations to make informed decisions about employee development, recognition, and talent management. AI Performance Review and feedback help streamline the review process, remove biases, and enhance the accuracy and fairness of performance evaluations.

Also Read: Problems with Annual Performance Reviews

Benefits of Using AI for Performance Reviews

AI can track employee performance and assess the need for improvement. Let’s delve deeper into the benefits of the use of AI in performance reviews

AI in performance reviews

1. Automated reviews 

Business leaders prefer AI-driven performance reviews as they allow them to focus on factual details. It is required to produce performance reports. The employees don’t need to collaborate; the AI software is suitable for effective performance management. The ROI on performance management shows the benefits of using AI in reviews.

2. No human intervention required

Chances of human errors were high in conventional performance reviews when managers mostly depended on trusted feedback from team leaders. This can break or make an individual’s career. From rating to suggesting training courses, the managers take up a lot of effort. Doing this for a large group can be taxing and increases the chance of human error, and things like personal bias, incomplete data, and favoritism can interrupt the appraisal. 

AI in performance management has no personal connection and helps create analytical reports based on the data collected.

3. Real-time analysis and assessment 

The shift from periodical performance appraisal to continuous reviews offers benefits. Now, performance can be continuously improved and corrected, and the organization can become flexible and alert.

The digital power of AI helps capture continuous data from various sources like communication among employees. This is where the system can show real-time insights into an individual’s performance and managers can give instant and constructive feedback. It saves time and effort to frame periodic reviews, where employees must recall and verify details from sources.

4. Solving bias or exacerbating it

It is time to let go of the age-old prejudices when managers often get biased toward an employee. This is what AI can avoid and keep away from biases, ensuring equality. AI keeps away prejudices based on ethnicity, nationality, age, race, and others and offers equal opportunities.  

Human nature might get directed, resulting in biased behavior, unlike machines that follow a direct path. So, artificial intelligence and machine learning can create an unbiased environment that can provide equal opportunities while appraising or giving promotions. 

Also Read: 5 Performance Management Biases to Avoid

5. Identifying incompetence and making improvements 

To identify incompetence and make improvements, an organization should focus on creating a collaborative workspace. It should promote teamwork, regardless of bias or hierarchy. Though technology will improve and speed up HR management, human interventions can help build ideas and campaigns and reach customers to maintain a real connection with them. 

AI and data are valuable company assets, and AI in performance management will give leaders more time to invest in core business functions and develop new ideas. It can further help individuals have a realistic timeline and set achievable goals to meet deadlines. It should show in individual performance and help boost productivity.      

AI can further help in the predictive appraisal so that there is no unfair practice or emotional decision-making. Unfair treatment can be caused by emotional instability, and AI software can remove that. 

6. Training and developing improvements 

Managers should know how to identify the gaps between talent tools and arrange for personalized training. It can help individuals analyze their career progression through the effective use of performance reviews and hone skill sets. Managers need to identify employee competency and not miss any scope for improvement that directly impacts an individual’s performance. Having AI can help identify an employee’s performance that needs improvement. AI technology in learning programs enables fast learning. 

7. Higher employee engagement 

A continuous performance review can help AI conduct frequent surveys and get real-time feedback. It can also offer personalized insights to employees with the help of surveys in self-evaluation. This is how management can help employees promote engagement and get a clear picture of the daily achievement of individuals and teams. AI can unveil an individual’s potential and predict one’s future performance level.  

Also Read: Best Employee Engagement Strategies for a Better Workplace

Managers can win with – Intuition and AI Tech 

AI alone cannot be enough to derive the best results. Managers working with multiple employees know an individual better and help perform at an optimum. Human knowledge can be strengthened with AI to help an individual improve accuracy and have greater foresight into performance. 

The use of AI-driven performance reviews is the new trend preferred across industries. If organizations are to focus on employee performance and satisfaction, this performance feedback is integral.   

AI in performance reviews

Why is the market for AI-powered performance reviews progressing?

AI-powered performance assessment takes place in real time, and the progress scale is well evaluated. As it happens in a real-time scenario, it introduces incentives with positive enforcement and alerts the leaders regarding the performance scale. Most top companies are deploying a continuous feedback strategy that has reduced turnover. 

Even the HR management team gets continuous feedback on performance and context-specific performance, depending on specific projects an individual works on.

Also Read: Continuous Feedback and Its Benefits

Executives already using AI performance management tools can combine the results of the tools with personalized oversight. Therefore, the combination augments employee efficiency and productivity without replacing it.

Performance Reviews


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. How can AI make a team productive?

Ans. Artificial intelligence is one of the effective tools to boost team productivity and efficiency. Regardless of the industry, there are repetitive tasks, and AI can handle them better. It is one of the major reasons companies have started infusing this tech into existing infrastructure. It helps boost customer experience and reduce the chance of human errors in daily activities.

Q2. How does AI in performance reviews help?

Ans. AI-driven performance reviews revolutionize traditional evaluations, providing objective, data-driven assessments, eliminating biases, and offering real-time feedback for personalized development. Automating the process saves time, identifies patterns, and fosters a culture of accountability and recognition, benefiting employees and organizations.

Q3. How is AI an essential aspect of a performance review system?

Ans. It is about collecting vast data about individuals, as data collection is vital in reviewing. The key to the performance management system is to analyze things from various perspectives and anticipate what can come out of the reviewing process.

6 Problems Companies Can Reduce With Gamification

According to a statistics compendium published by Gitnux, 9 out of 10 employees noticed a rise in their productivity once a company integrated gamification techniques into the work experience.

The stat alone indicates that gamification has its place in the workplace. After all, it is common to see the trend of gamification growing in human resources. Specialists are looking at the available gamification mechanics and how these mechanics can be integrated with an everyday work environment. 

What Makes Gamification Effective?

If your supervisor puts in the effort to gameify the department, it means that they believe in the method. But where does such an approach come from?

Take yourself back to the days of when you were a student. The odds are that instead of doing schoolwork, you were more interested in playing games. The desire to procrastinate is hard to resist when you are surrounded by friends who encourage you to go outside and have some fun. And what about video games? Many of us have spent hours and hours on those.

The idea behind gamification’s success can be attributed to two notable characteristics—collaboration and game immersion. 

You cooperate with others and immerse yourself in a reality that helps you escape dullness. In a workplace that gets monotonous, introducing even a little bit of gamification can make a significant difference.

Also Read: The Growing Trend of Gamification in HR

The Benefits of Gamification

Benefits of gamification

It is also worth mentioning the benefits that come from gamification. It is not just a company as an entity that can benefit from it. Individuals stand to gain something valuable as well, which further encourages them to engage with the system. 

Besides the aforementioned aspect of having fun, gamification also:

  • Improves memory and attention span
  • Enhances storytelling and imagination
  • Helps with decision making
  • Creates a sense of achievement

Understanding how gamification benefits individuals makes it easier to see why the implementation of the concept can reduce certain problems that a fair few companies struggle to overcome. Let’s take a look at those problems in detail.

Employee Attraction, Motivation, and Retention

Employees are the heart and soul of a company, and it is up to the higher-ups to keep them happy and engaged while also ensuring that the right people join the team.

There are multiple perks that influence a potential recruit’s decision whether to join or not. It might not seem like a big deal, but if a company has a digital environment to help employees reach their goals, it will stand out from the competition.

An employee can join and play a game that tracks their status and goals. Once the participant clears a stage, they can move on to the next goal. A sense of direction also works as a means to motivate and encourage employees to continue. And if there is a reward in it, then that further boosts the desire to participate. With all that said, an employee who is happy and motivated will be much easier to retain, even if they receive offers from other companies.

One final thing to note, of course, is the fact that different departments have different priorities, and not every single person in a department is likely to have the drive to join. As such, it is crucial to think about different gamification levels and techniques that should be introduced.

Also Read: Hiring Advice: Staffing and Employment Trends for 2023

Employee Health

In a busy work environment where productivity and profits are prioritized so much, it is common to see health being overlooked. 

Overworking yourself to a point where you suffer consequences later is hardly ideal for long-term success. 

Implementing gamification is relatively simple. You can hire an app developer or pick one of the already available applications and encourage employees to treat using these apps as a game.

For example, an app could track one’s time spent in front of a monitor or how many calories they consume on average throughout a week or a month.

Setting goals to take regular breaks, balance your diet, or spend more time can be treated as a game so long as you track your progress and checkmark goals. 

By prioritizing employee health, a company further strengthens itself as a responsible employer. And similar to work productivity, instances of success in overcoming health problems or maintaining a positive result can also be rewarded.

Maintenance and Development Costs

By gamifying the workplace, a company stands to reduce its maintenance and development costs long-term. The overall savings might not be significant, but every little bit helps, especially for those who run on a tight budget or want to dedicate more resources to the well-being of the employees.

In this case, the purpose of gamification is to create a knowledge base and build a tool that collects data about employee engagement, training, progress, and so on.

It becomes much easier to identify which methods work and which do not when you have a gamification system in hand to provide instant results based on past experiences.

If a method is successful, it is worth continuing to use it and maybe developing further by investing more. On the other hand, if one of your gamification techniques did not prove good, you will have a piece of data to justify giving it up. 

Customer Loyalty and Brand Awareness

Brand Awareness

There are true and tried methods to boost customer loyalty and raise brand awareness. However, it does not mean that you cannot look for new and less conventional ideas.

Even if it is for the sake of variety, businesses stand to gain if they gameify certain aspects of their products and try gamification in sales.

First of all, you need to decide which elements you want to introduce. Choosing between one of the following should be a good start:

  • Points
  • Levels
  • Virtual currencies
  • Badges
  • Leaderboards

From a consumer’s point of view, there are two notable points of attraction. The first is competition against others, and the second is taking a direct advantage by participating.

Breaking these two down, let’s cover the competitive side first. Take Duolingo, for example. This well-known language education app has weekly leaderboards and multiple divisions that encourage users to spend more time on the app to learn and collect points and achievements because they want to be at the top of the leaderboards.

As far as the direct benefits go, those are pretty self-explanatory. If a service offers a discount code or a loyalty badge that enables free shipping, for instance, you can expect the engagement rate to grow significantly. 

So what does this all lead to? By engaging with the product, customers become more attached and loyal. Not to mention that they are more likely to share their positive experiences with others. And considering how effective word of mouth is, it is understandable to see more and more companies try gamification marketing a go.

Data Collection

In the era of digital information and strict laws on data management, it is tricky to collect data and utilize it. 

Brands make decisions based on the information they have. Customer demographics, habits, and other details help create a consumer persona that can then be utilized to create your targets.

However, businesses have to align the data collection with GDPR. Otherwise, they stand to break the law and face consequences.

The great thing about gamification is that it helps you circumvent the regulations. There are certain tools and services that let brands collect data legally. As for how this data is utilized, it is entirely up to the companies that gather the information.

Multiple Platform Reach

Roughly half of all the internet traffic comes from mobile devices. The other half is from desktops. 

The split creates quite a few problems for brands that are looking to create a universal marketing campaign to cover as many potential consumers as possible.

For example, ads display differently on smartphones compared to desktop computers. Or, if you open an email on a tablet, the odds are that it will not display as the sender initially wanted. Sure, in some cases, the fault lies on the user’s end because they do not have optimized devices. 

According to the Backlight blog, failing to clear the cache, remove spyware, or enable updates leads to performance and display issues. However, as a brand, you do not focus on these obstacles and want to do what you can do.

It is about efficiency. Managing resources is easier when there is a marketing method that works on multiple platforms.

Gamification is exactly that. Social media, apps, software as a service, and anything else with the potential to be gamified on both computers and mobile devices opens opportunities to make the most out of gamification without worrying about restrictions.

Also Read: Engagedly Gamification Module

Closing thoughts

All in all, the fact that gamification solves such significant problems illustrates why gamification solutions are on the mind of those managing both big and small companies.

The idea of gamifying your work environment is still relatively new and comes with certain challenges, but the benefits outweigh the drawbacks by a significant margin. As such, if your organization has not considered implementing gamification, now might be a good time to reconsider.

After all, companies that do not bother with it stand to fall behind the competition, and it can be difficult to make a comeback once everyone else is ahead.



Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What is gamification and it’s example?

Ans. Gamification is the application of game elements and mechanics in non-game contexts to engage and motivate individuals. It involves incorporating elements such as points, badges, leaderboards, challenges, and rewards into activities or systems to make them more enjoyable and encourage desired behaviors.

Example: A fitness app that uses gamification could award points and badges to users for completing daily workouts, achieving personal milestones, or participating in challenges. Users can compete with friends on leaderboards, earn rewards or virtual goods, and track their progress visually. This gamified approach helps to motivate and sustain user engagement in their fitness journey.

Q2. How does gamification work?

Ans. Gamification works by incorporating game elements like goals, challenges, rewards, and competition into non-game activities. It engages and motivates people by tapping into their desire for achievement, progression, and social interaction.


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A Complete Guide to Improve the Performance Appraisal Process

Performance Appraisal 

The performance assessment, also known as a performance review, performance evaluation, or worker appraisal, is a systematic way of evaluating an employee’s overall performance and contribution to the business on a regular basis, with the ultimate objective of enhancing their performance.

Performance evaluations serve several functions, including providing useful feedback, providing a defined time to analyse work performance, and ensuring the equitable distribution of compensation increases and incentives among employees.

The fact that the employee and the supervisor share responsibilities for the employee assessment process is critical. While the supervisor is in charge of this process, active engagement from the employee is essential to establish the required commitment to make the improvements that the performance evaluation seeks to achieve. We will discuss more about this in the upcoming sections.

Performance Appraisal vs Performance Management

In the realm of workforce optimization, an important distinction lies between performance appraisal and overall performance management cycle. While performance appraisal centers around formal evaluations, performance management encompasses a broader spectrum of interactions between workers and managers, all aimed at driving performance enhancement. Today, we delve into the intricacies of the performance appraisal, an integral part of the performance management cycle that bestows official recognition upon the diligent efforts of employees.

Performance management, a comprehensive framework, encompasses both formal and informal discussions that we will explore in the table below. These meaningful exchanges, ranging from planned sit-downs to impromptu conversations, form the backbone of a dynamic and growth-oriented work environment.

We are all well acquainted with the performance appraisal cycle. Usually, this occurs a couple of times a year, taking place at the start of the year and across the half-year point. These are formal sit-downs wherein the direct supervisor or manager evaluates overall performance on the primary responsibilities and duties of the employee. An overall performance rating is derived based on this appraisal, which is used for promotions, rewards, and terminations.

Also Read: How To Shift To A Web Based Performance Appraisal System?

Job Performance 

Job performance

As performance appraisal is directly related to performance and can enhance overall job/task performance, it is essential to outline what it is.

The degree to which an employee performs the tasks outlined in their job description is referred to as job performance. Individuals with perfect task performance accomplish all of the requirements of their tasks, meet their work objectives, and meet the overall performance criteria. This is sometimes referred to as in-function task performance.

Workers can also help their organisation by engaging in behaviours that aren’t directly related to their given tasks. Extra-function performance, contextual performance, or organisational citizenship behaviours are examples of this.

This extra-function behaviour includes aiding colleagues with work after they return after an absence, assisting colleagues who are dealing with excessive job stress or other issues, and being willing to perform things that do not match your function but contribute to the organisation in general. Both in-role and extra-role behaviours are important in terms of exact performance and must be included at some point in the performance review.

Also Read: Performance Appraisal Checklist For Managers And Employees

Key Success Factors of a Performance Appraisal

Every corporate firm approaches performance evaluations differently. Nonetheless, there are various quality practises that every supervisor must recognise while evaluating employee overall performance.

Use of clear intention

Both supervisors and workers may feel uneasy at some time during the performance assessment. That is perhaps the highest official placement they may have all year, and it does not occur frequently enough to be considered a typical occurrence. Utilizing an activity-based overall performance assessment may help both the parties, with better instructions and the overall performance evaluation process.

Involvement of employees

One of the key issues in worker value determinations is a loss of buy-in from the worker. A meta-evaluation via way of means of Cawly, Keeping & Levy (1998) suggests that there may be a robust correlation between the participation of the worker and their reaction. Employee participation is the quantity to which an employee is able to take part in the performance appraisal process. Employees who participated in their performance evaluation had been extra satisfied, rated the process as fairer, and useful, and had been further influenced to improve. A higher level of employee participation revealed 40% higher satisfaction, 35% in fairness, 30% in usefulness, and 19% in motivation to improve.

Constructive feedback first!

According to Daniel Pink (2018), it has been observed that individuals tend to experience the highest level of satisfaction when addressing negative news early on in a conversation or interview. By doing so, the stage is set for a more productive discussion, allowing for a smoother transition towards positive information, which is then purposefully saved for the latter part of the interaction. This strategic approach ensures that the overall assembly concludes on a high note, leaving a lasting impression of effectiveness and accomplishment.

Consistency of feedback

Receiving feedback only once a year is insufficient in driving performance improvement. Employees express a desire for regular and ongoing feedback to enhance their work performance. It is important to explore methods that enable managers to stay connected with their employees consistently, leveraging the use of technology.

By leveraging technology, managers can establish efficient channels of communication to provide timely feedback and guidance. This could include the use of digital platforms, such as email, instant messaging applications, or project management tools. These channels can facilitate regular check-ins, allowing managers to stay informed about their employees’ progress, address any concerns promptly, and offer constructive feedback in a timely manner.

Moreover, technology can enable the implementation of performance management systems that streamline the feedback process. These systems can incorporate features such as regular performance evaluations, real-time feedback mechanisms, and goal tracking functionalities. By utilizing technology-driven tools, managers can establish a framework that promotes continuous feedback, fostering an environment of growth and improvement within the organization.

Organizations recognize the significance of frequent feedback and actively work towards cultivating a culture of open communication. They achieve this by fostering transparent and collaborative environments where employees feel at ease seeking feedback and sharing their progress with their managers. By nurturing a supportive feedback culture, organizations ensure that employees receive the necessary guidance to excel in their roles and make valuable contributions to the overall success of the company.

In conclusion, embracing technology and fostering a culture of continuous feedback stand as pivotal steps in meeting employees’ expectations for regular and ongoing feedback. By harnessing digital tools and promoting open communication, organizations create an environment that propels performance improvement and empowers employees to unleash their full potential.

Key Success Factors of a Performance Appraisal

Accurate documentation

Important choices regarding who to promote and which salaries to raise, as well as who to terminate, are based on performance management information. It is crucial to maintain meticulous documentation during performance appraisal conferences. Consistency in evaluating and reporting performance statistics throughout the company is crucial. Storing this information in a central database, like a talent management system, becomes imperative for effective management. This is likewise essential when you turn to more continuous feedback.

A 2016 paper from the NeuroLeadership Institute discovered that 91% of corporations that have followed non-stop performance management document better facts for people’s decisions. These corporations additionally file a primary development in doing away with bias in promotion and advancement.

Evolution form of job performance

A job performance evaluation form often has multiple components. Additionally, we can index the appraisee’s call with their worker ID, appraisal date, as well as the call made by the appraiser or direct supervisor and the appraisal period.

Following that, there is typically a performance portion, followed by a behaviour section. The supervisor might compliment the employee for exceptional aspects in the performance segment. These might be skills or a leadership quality. Both function is to assess the worker’s performance in their current employment.

In the behavioral segment, the worker may be rated for going the extra mile. This consists of ratings including excellent teamwork, altruism, and dedication to the organization.

The activity of filling in the performance evaluation form commonly also includes areas of improvement, that an appraiser needs to highlight.

Competencies

Jobs often have a predefined set of skills required to do them successfully. These skills fall into 2 categories: Core abilities and job-precise competencies.

Core abilities are the abilities that everybody within the organisation needs. These are set with the aid of the board. Every person is needed to have at least a minimum amount of information about them. The more senior the function, the better the desired competency stage. An example is being a business for a consulting firm, in which associates and companions all want to work to generate greater sales from new and present customers.

HR and the direct managers are constantly describing job-specific competencies. These are the talents necessary for superior work performance. For each skill, we can define three to five levels that correspond to specific behaviors. We can evaluate the worker based on their performance in these abilities. Here’s an example from the SHRM special report on performance management below. As you can see, they employ a five-factor scale based on three skill levels here.

Job performance and job behavior scales

This technique is used generally in the scientific literature. When analyzing a person’s performance, it is not possible to create a customized evaluation for all functions. Instead, researchers searched for one way to evaluate them all.

Researchers use a device that measures matters: in-role and extra-position conduct.

In-role behavior encompasses all actions pertaining to the worker’s job description. To assess performance quickly, managers can ask questions based on the following statements and have them voiced back to them by the immediate manager.

  • Employee meets the process’s objectives
  • Employee fulfils performance expectations.
  • Employee meets all of the process’s requirements

The second point to mention is extra-position behaviour. Extra-position behaviours are any activities that go above and beyond the definition of the task. This involves aiding coworkers, arranging team activities, and other responsibilities.

  • When one employee is absent, they delegate their task to other employees.
  • When their workload rises, a worker permits others to do so (assists others till they recover from the hurdles)
  • Employees volunteer to execute tasks that are not technically underlined by the employment.

The management can analyse the worker’s performance on each factor based on the scores of those behaviours.

Also Read: How To Conduct Performance Appraisal For Remote Employees

Effectiveness of Performance Appraisal

In the past, employee performance evaluation followed a formal, top-down approach that hindered its effectiveness. Evaluations were conducted sporadically throughout the year without clear justification, and employees were assigned scores based on their Key Result Areas (KRAs). A record from SHRM states that 95% of managers aren’t happy with their company’s annual overall performance appraisal process. In fact, as referred to in a record through Towers Watson, 75% of personnel consider that appraisals are unfair.

Hence, it is necessary to restructure conventional performance appraisals to be employee-centric. Employee experience, private growth, and professional improvement are all visible factors that drive worker engagement and productivity.

Thoughts on the Effectiveness of Performance Appraisal System

Appraisals can assist your organization to improve worker engagement and retention. With a powerful performance appraisal system, you can pull off annual appraisals and behavior-common performance reviews.

According to Forbes, the conventional yearly assessment method is giving way to increasing realtime interactions among staff and managers.

Do comprehensive overall performance assessments and recognise top performers as an activity. With appropriate reviews, employees can reach their full potential. In reality, managers must ensure that the performance evaluation method is free of prejudice and errors. Then employees would also be more open to it.

In addition, clear communication of work expectations to employees and equipping them with the essential tools, training, and support to enhance job performance is crucial. By taking these actions, employees will experience greater job satisfaction and motivation to continually improve their performance. Ultimately, a well-designed performance appraisal process plays a pivotal role in cultivating a highly engaged and appreciative workforce, fostering a deep commitment to accomplishing organizational goals.

Performance Management Tool


Frequently Asked Questions

Q1. What are the top tips for managers to implement an effective performance appraisal?

Ans. To implement an effective performance appraisal, managers should establish clear goals, provide regular feedback, encourage employee self-assessment, offer development opportunities, and ensure fairness in evaluations.

Engagedly Launches Growth Hub to Empower Career Development with Marissa AI

Clients can drive growth and development in the future of work for their employees powered by Marissa AI

ST. LOUISMay 16, 2023 /PRNewswire/ — Engagedly, the leading AI powered cloud-based software for Performance, Learning & Development and Employee Engagement solutions, is excited to announce the launch of Growth Hub powered by Marissa AI™, a powerful new module that empowers employees to take ownership of their career growth, empowering them to develop their skills through skill-based organization. The new module is powered by Marissa AI and provides a customized development plan for each employee based on their individual goals and the needs of the organization.

Integrating 1:1 meetings into the Growth Hub further helps in setting clear expectations for employees and managers and provides ongoing support for employees looking for career progression opportunities. The use of Marissa AI gives employees insight into what competencies and skills are required from each level, helping them build the knowledge needed to advance their careers as well as better aligning individual objectives with organization objectives, benefiting both parties in terms of improved business outcomes.

Growth Hub module include:
Individual Development Plans (IDPs) – enabling employees to put forth their growth aspirations as a development plan with learning objectives and milestones

Integrated Learning Path with LXMS- enabling employees to integrate comprehensive learning journeys through different courses from the Engagedly LMS for themselves.

Skill Library, Competency and Learning Resources: Growth Hub will offer a library of competencies and skills required for different roles across multiple industries, for employees to focus on developing to advance their careers within your organization. In addition, a first of its kind learning resource recommendations provided by Marissa AI.

This enhanced Growth Hub capability empowers each individual to take ownership of their career growth within organizations to quickly level up their growth.

“Employees need to have an agency in their own careers and upskilling and Engagedly’s Growth Hub does precisely that for them,” says Sri Chellappa, Co-founder & CEO at Engagedly. “Our unique offering integrates Learning Management (LMS), Skills, Learning recommendations, all powered by Marissa AI will give people centric organizations an edge.”

Research has shown unambiguously that employees are more likely to stay with a company that supports their career growth and development.

These updates provide Engagedly clients with more powerful tools than ever before for creating an effective nurturing environment that is tailored to each individual so they can level up their workforce.

About Engagedly

Built on best practices and decades of research, Engagedly’s AI powered People+Strategy platform helps organizations build high performance culture. With Engagedly’s Modular Platform, organizations can Execute on their strategy with goals/OKRs, performance appraisals and 360 reviews, Enable their people development with Growth Hub, 1 on 1 feedback, LMS, Mentoring/Coaching, and Engage their people with Recognition and Rewards, Employee Survey and Social Praise.

Employee Engagement

What Is A Weekly Check In? Definition and Tips

Weekly check-ins are a great way to touch base with your team. They give managers and employees a chance to get on the same page without the stress of the check-in being treated like an actual meeting. Moreover, effective managers will use weekly check-ins to gain insight into how the employee works, what does not work, and what needs to change. And, considering the current times when most of the employees globally are still working from home, it is crucial to have weekly check-ins.

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