Performance Appraisals

Performance Appraisal is the subject most supervisors, managers, and HR Specialists avoid like root canals.  Training commonly focuses on forms, time frames, and limiting high ratings.  Meanwhile, supervisors are tasked with judging people’s value and talent.  Government Personnel Services’ seminar Making Sense of Federal Performance Appraisals takes an approach agencies won’t find elsewhere.  Robbie uses “critical elements” and “performance standards” as a vehicle for communicating expectations of both excellence and improvement — without resorting to phony metrics and/or vague “weasel words”.

Typically, performance expectations are couched in terms that mean little and influence no one.  GPS shows supervisors and managers how they can develop elements and standards that encourage individuals to perfect new and better work habits.  Robbie believes that mediocre employees need to see and understand what they must do to become better, better to become best, and best to be challenged for years ahead.  In this way, appraisals are considered from the perspective of benefits rather than requirements and costs.

The Code of Federal Regulations tells agencies that, “…performance standard may include, but is not limited to, quality, quantity, timeliness, and manner of performance.”  GPS has found over decades that developing appraisal criteria using “manner of performance” standards can result in clearer communication, expectations that mean something, and (most of all) better individual performance in the coming year.

Like all GPS seminars, this class is off-the-shelf training and commercially available to the public.  This seminar is taught in a 2 or 3-day format.  The 2-day version costs $10,000 and the 3-day class runs $12,000 for organizations located in North America.  The 2 and 3-day pricing for classes in Hawaii is $11,000 and $13,500.  Classes outside of the United States are priced individually.  Class size is limited to 30 participants and pricing includes all materials and expenses.  Call or e-mail Robbie for a course agenda and other details.