Performance management is a process by which an organization can plan, monitor and review an employee’s work objectives and overall contribution to the organization. It is much more than just an annual performance review. The fundamental goal of performance management is to promote and improve employee effectiveness.

The emphasis is on improvement, learning and development in order to achieve the overall business strategy and to create a high performance workforce.

An effective performance management system needs good HR management practices in place to be successful. These include:

• Well-designed jobs and written job descriptions.
• Effective supervision.
• Comprehensive employee orientation and training.
• A positive and supportive work environment.

Most of the time, employee performance meets or exceeds the expectations of management. However, when problems with behaviour or performance occur, there needs to be an inquiry into the situation. What needs to be done to return the performance back into the acceptable zone? Is this a training issue, a capacity issue or is this a labour relations issue?

A strong supervisory team that contributes to a positive work environment and enables employees to be and feel successful can provide your organization with a competitive advantage.