With all new consulting clients, I start by asking the following: “How are you judging your staff’s performance?”
The answers are pretty much the same and they go something like this, “We think.” “We’ve been told.” “Because I’ve been in business for a while I know who is and isn’t performing well.”
To which my reply is, “So, you’re basing your judgment of them either doing a good job or a bad job at the work they’re hired to do based on opinion or other subjective measures. Am I right?”
With a sheepish look on their face, they mutter, “Yes. I guess so.”
I know this sounds embarrassing but it’s not meant to be anything but helpful. I know exactly how they feel and how they got where they are because I too once judged my employees’ performance solely on opinion and subjective feelings! Nothing in my company was based on an objective standard until we made a change.
So, how do you tip the scales in the right direction of objective vs. subjective judgement when it comes to evaluating employees’ performance?