There is a lot to learn on both sides from a business review

Performance reviews can be both a daunting and rewarding task for  the supervisor and/or the employee. From the employee perspective, their future is determined in part by the result of the review. From the supervisor’s point of view, the relationship with the employee is highly impacted by the review. So how do we make the most of the review regardless of which chair we sit in? Below are several ideas to make this process a powerful success.

For the supervisor

You have the opportunity during the review to really connect with your employee. Understand they are probably nervous about the outcome of the review and how it literally will affect their future. Understand also that the very purpose of your meeting is to “review” the performance of your employee.

Give them honest, straightforward feedback.

If their performance has been stellar, tell them why and thank them for it. I mean, you want more of the same type of behavior from them don’t you so point out the good things that you see and brainstorm how you can get more of that performance.

If their performance has been sub-standard, help them know details of where it needs improvement and give them specific examples of how to improve. Better yet, have them describe to you what can be done to improve their importance based on the feedback you discuss. In this way, they own the improvement rather than being told what to do by someone in authority. Make sure there are specific expectations and milestones of what is needed and arrange for regular follow up to assess the course correction.

If their performance is just average, you have a challenge on your hands. For the average employee isn’t doing anything wrong per se, but what business wants “average” performance from their staff. In this case, use the review to find opportunities together to raise the bar.

If you can leave the review having motivated the employee to try harder,  to put in more effort and most importantly, want to be better, you’ve done well. An inspired employee will do wonders for your organization.

For the employee

The review for you is a chance to exercise a little humility and understand where you can improve. Come to your review with specific questions for your supervisor. Ask about what you’re doing right as well as what you’re doing wrong. Don’t be afraid to get granular in your questions. After all, how else can you improve without knowing what to improve.

Most likely, there will be things that will be hard to hear. Realize that by default most reviews have a place where the reviewer must give constructive feedback. It will come in the form of “What can this employee do to improve his performance?” or something similar. There may or may not be legitimate things to fill in here. The point is, understand that your reviewer is trying to help you so accept the feedback as a gift to take and do something with it – hopefully improvement is the end result.

After the review, make sure you actively work on the things that were discussed.  Ask for a follow up review to assess your progress and demonstrate your willingness to make improvements.

The hope for you is to leave the review with specific action items that will allow you to improve your performance and help the company. Above all, find happiness in your job and use the review to get you closer to that.

There are many more takeaways that can come from a review. How can you best prepare for a review? What have you learned from the reviews you’ve had? What tips do you have for supervisors? for employees?

Share some of your thoughts in the comments below and good luck at your next review!

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When I look at the challenges that people have in sticking to or maintaining focus, there seems to be a disconnect that kills motivation. Life comes at you so fast that you can often find yourself going days without really doing anything you really wanted to do and instead, you’ve spent your time “just doing.” We do things because “its easy.” We do things because we “have to.” We do things because we “need to.” But how often do we really do things because we really “want to?”

I find myself slipping into this scenario sometimes – I live without purpose and just do things because it’s there to do. I don’t claim this to be a bad thing, it just happens.  But I can’t say it is really that good of a thing either. Life is a lot more fun when you are actively living it, the way you want, instead of passively going from day to day. That is why I like to look at defining the “whys” in life so that they in turn can direct you in the “whats” that you do.

What do I mean by this? Well, let’s look at a few examples.

Most people typically go to work for around 8-9 hours/day. So why do we spend so much time away from our family and other interests? Hopefully you really enjoy what you do, for if you don’t, it’s probably a long day at the office. But assuming you do love your work, ask yourself why you’re doing it? Is it for the money, the recognition, the challenge or what? Do you come home from work energized or drained? Is there purpose behind your work that moves you to want to be a better person? I would hope that in answering these and other similar questions, you would find some strong reasons that help you understand why you do what you do.

How about your social things you do? How often do you do things because you committed yourself without really considering if you wanted to do it? Are the majority of your friends and social situations moving and inspiring to you? More close to home, do you enjoy the time you spend with your spouse and/or kids or is there some obligation that you feel? When you have free time, do you choose something you want to do or do you look at the list of things to do and groan.

Hopefully, as you consider these scenarios, you are feeling good about your reasons behind doing things.  Your “whys” are aligned and drive your “whats.”  If not, then that’s where reconsidering and aligning your motivations might be a very good thing.

Once you know what drives you, or as I’m defining it, the “why” of what you do, then the actual doing of those things becomes more inspiring to you. Take your work situation again. If you know that not only do you look for the opportunity to solve challenges and make life better for others in your work but also that ultimately you’re working so you can better provide for yourself and your loved ones, you can have much more purpose to your day. You still spend the same 8-9 hours “working” but there is a strong “why” driving your behavior.

Life is so much more enjoyable this way. I’ve seen it change for many people as well as myself. If you need help finding your “why,” then get that help.  At the bare minimum write down your reasons for doing the major things in your life.

Here’s to finding and living the “why!”

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I was working with a client who was doing great until the holiday hit and all of a sudden, her life was turned upside down.  She entered into some self sabotage on multiple levels and we found ourselves addressing those issues .  Since that session, I have reflected upon why people do some of the things they do and more importantly, how they can avoid that in the future.

David Bullock, one of the great businessman and internet marketers commented on this in one of his blog posts here about the same process.  He made reference to an sprinter in a race poised to start.  All the preparation that has taken place up to the start of that race is secondary to actually getting out and doing the absolute best in that race.

The same holds true to our lives and accomplishing what we want to do.  We can change behaviors, set goals, put action plans in place as much as we want.  However, in the here and now, we have to execute on what we know to do.  It is up to us to act.

So how do we tend to get in our own way?

• Procrastinating
• Justification of doing something other than plan
• Not being clear on what you will do now
• Lack of purpose behind your plans
• Laziness
• Other similar traits

More importantly, how do we get out of our own way?  Maybe these simple steps can help.

1. Clearly decide what you want to do.
2. Identify the “why” behind the “what,” meaning, what is the driving force behind what you want to do.
3. Make a judgment call on the “why” to make sure it fits in with who you truly are and/or want to be.
4. Break down the “what” into tangible, doable steps.  I recommend something that can be completed in a defined period of time, 30-60 minutes seems to work best.
5. Share with a coach or someone else what that is to set up some accountability by asking them to follow up with you.
6. Decide when you are going to do each step.
7. Go and do!!!

If you find yourself getting sidetracked once you’ve done the steps above, take advantage of your accountability person to kick start you back into action.  You may also want to review step 2 to make sure you have a good “why.”  Ask yourself what you are gaining by not doing what you committed to yourself to do and process what you feel.

Very soon you will find that your own excuses are truly just that, excuses and once you dismiss them, you’ll be out of your own way and on your way to success!

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Being a professional coach for over 15 years I have come to value the power that a coaching relationship provides.  There is great power in opening yourself up to someone else to allow them to hold you accountable.  Whether you are a seasoned business person or a brand new entrepreneur, you can grow tremendously from using a coach.

How often have you said to yourself, “Yeah, I’ll get to that as soon as I finish ‘X.’”  How often do we remember that promise we made to ourselves to actually get to that?  Do we really mean it when we say that?  I believe that people inherently put things off in order to not have to deal with unpleasant or tough things.  We have to do those things eventually.  Successful people are the ones who tackle those tough things on a regular basis.  They push through the things they procrastinate so they can have more emotional energy to focus on the things that will make them successful.

In working with a coach you have someone else holding your “feet to the fire” to get those things done.  Often I’ve found that once I’m able to talk through with someone what they are trying to do, they are much more likely to succeed because it becomes clear what to do next for them.  Each subsequent step gets mapped out and they are able to successfully move through complex and tough tasks.

Coaches help brainstorm what to do.  It’s hard to think of everything to do on your own.  Having a coach gives an outside perspective that helps you see things in a different light to open you up to doing more of the important things.

Coaching also give you someone to acknowledge your successes.  In our “grown-up” world we don’t usually have a parent or other person to celebrate our successes with us.  If we never get positive feedback, we tend to lose our motivation.

If you have never taken advantage of what a coach can do for you, give it a try.  You’ll be surprised at how powerful the results will be for you.

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I’ve been working in the corporate world ever since graduating from college.  It was always a very safe, secure place for me.  I’ve been blessed with many wonderful experiences and met some amazing people along the way. What started out as a health and fitness coaching program with an exercise equipment company named Health Rider turned into coaching opportunities for some of the great “gurus” of personal and business development.

I’ve been fortunate to coach programs for Franklin Covey, Denis Waitley, Zig Ziglar, Tom Hopkins, Brian Tracy,  Robert Kiyosaki, Jack Canfield, StomperNet and many more.  I’ve had the chance to personally work with close to 2,000 customers over the last 15 years on a 1:1 coaching relationship–helping them improve their own lives as they incorporate the principles of these great programs and authors in their own lives.

What’s this?

Coaching is a passion of mine.  Because through coaching, people learn about themselves, who they are, what they want, and have me as their coach hold them accountable to actually achieving what they want.  So many people dream but don’t do.  I get to help them do. I help people change!

With many corporations these days, layoffs are inevitable.  On October 9th, 2009 I was given the opportunity to move on by my most recent employer.  After the initial shock, anger, and other emotions that come when someone gets let go, I decided it was time to step away from working for a corporation and have my own coaching company.  There is a world of opportunity out there for everyone; it’s time we each go out and seize it on our own terms.  I help people work on their business through my business leadership success coaching.

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