Episode 99! I talk to Matt about Performance Reviews, me from the perspective of having my first formalised ones and Matt from the perspective of being a manager doing them.

Episode 100 next and still time to get involved! Ask me a question on twitter, email me a question (or a recording!) at letstalkabouttests@gmail.com, leave my a skype voicemail at letstalkabouttests

For a business, why have them?

Keeping career progression and rewards clear and transparent

Encouraging self development and investment in employees

Discovering and addressing discontent

As an employee, why care?

Opportunity to take control of your training and development

Opportunity to understand what the company/your manager really expects from you and how you can progress

Now I’m a manager…

I book in time with each of my team

I chase them to fill in the forms and regularly keep notes of progress in regular 1 to 1s

I try to coach and point out when people perform well and what they could set as objectives

I try to guide people into writing the best reviews they can

I try to remind people that they aren’t tied to one path, they don’t need to predict the future. Its ok to change tack, as long as you’re happy and learning.

I push people to make self development part of their work – its hard to make time sometimes but this is always true in every job. Its easier when your day to day is stuff you want to learn.

General thoughts