Get rid of the end-of-year conversation
In many companies, "the end-of-year meeting" will soon be on the agenda. Employees discuss the past year's performance with their manager or the HR department. Although it is not (anymore) referred to as a performance review as such; rather, it is referred to as a development, progress or end-of-year review, for many employees it still feels like a judgment, especially when it comes to salary increases.
No fuss please
To make the conversation more objective, there are methods such as "360 degree feedback," among others. Different parties involved give feedback on each other's performance as neutrally as possible. On paper this sounds good but in practice it is less evident to be honest and constructive.
On the eve of such an interview, the employee fills out some (digital) forms in which he assesses himself and maps out the development points for the coming year. These forms form the basis of the interview in which the person in charge goes through the questionnaire, often on autopilot. The employee is nervous and anxiously awaits the verdict and a possible pay increase.
On both sides of the table, the goal often seems to be to finish the conversation without too much fuss. In most cases, the employee gets a good review and a modest pay raise. However, the conversation was far from a true dialogue.
Talking helps
Rudo Vissers, CEO of paraDIGMA group, does not understand the added value of such conversations and is happy to advise employers to stop these useless conversations. If you communicate well with each other during the year, such end-of-year talks actually become superfluous by themselves. In addition, the request for a salary increase should not be a surprise, since the expectations were already clear. Make problems negotiable and intervene immediately where necessary. This also makes the use of formal appraisal forms unnecessary.
Laughter is healthy
Encouraging open and sincere communication in the workplace is essential for a healthy work environment. Emphasizing autonomy, room for growth and building personal relationships contribute to a positive work culture. And laugh a little at formal procedures now and then! It adds a human touch to the workplace without the need for an end-of-the-year sentence .
