10 Ways to Measure Employee Performance Efficiently

by Angela Griffiths

To ensure the future of a business, one of the factors to keep it afloat is securing that the performance of its employees is not only checked but also maintained at its peak. This is one of the oldest methods but a process that’s definitely effective enough to be considered a foundation for any company.

After all, employees have a tangible impact on the business, so it’s ideal that you follow an effective employee performance management process to see through everything. What your employees do will make or break the progress of the business, so this is done to not have any delays in the workplace when it comes to company growth.

Still, there are different ways to measure employee performance and programs that you can choose from. Regardless of which one you use though, luckily, there are practices that you could use to amplify its effectiveness through these tips:

Make Your Process Simple

There’s nothing more confusing than company processes complicating with each other. While some businesses may have a detailed and meticulous process, it’s ideal that you keep things simplified first. For employee performance processes, it should be the same too.

It can be tempting to analyze data too deep, but you’re likely to efficiently interpret them when you don’t put too many unnecessary steps in your process. One great tip is that you identify first what the milestones or elements are in your performance management program.

Doing so will let you simplify your steps by focusing on what milestone your employee is currently in. Do you have a monthly check-in or annual performance feedback? When you know the elements of your employee performance program, you can establish a straightforward foundation for each, making them easier to simplify and focus on.

Apply this by categorizing and only implementing each when needed. In this way, you won’t bombard your employees with unnecessary processes that will only complicate things.

Give Rewards for Excellent Performance

This is nothing new. There are always perks when an employee is excellent at work. That’s why it’s great to add rewards that are likely to be appreciated by your team. When you want to measure employee performance, you have to also prepare some ways where the employees could ultimately improve their performances in general because the perks keep them inspired.

Sure, it’s not really one of the best ways to measure employee performance, but it’s one way of motivating your team members to have better performances throughout. Plus, it creates a nice competitive atmosphere in the workplace.

There are several ways you can practice this. Yes, you can opt for the common ones like an additional performance bonus where they can receive extra cash. But, you can also opt to give out other perks like all-expenses-paid vacations or even gift cheques. You don’t have to be grand, but do note that the more exciting the rewards are, the better and more motivated your employees perform.

Prepare Qualitative and Quantitative Feedback

This is one of the most important steps to ensure that you are not only keeping track of the performance of your workers, but you are also hearing out their concerns, thus creating a safe space for them. Considering the qualitative and quantitative aspects of feedbacking is one of the ways to measure employee performance effectively and completely.

ways to measure employee performance

The quantitative aspect refers to the metrics, numbers, and data gathered to assess the performance of your employees. This is a straightforward method to actually see specific data that will give you factual results. However, for the qualitative aspect, you’ll have to reach out to the employees of your company.

This is where you can ask their firsthand thoughts about their work in general. You can ask them about their impact on the company and if they think they’ve contributed enough. This is an excellent way to maximize how you measure employee performance because you are gathering personal data that can be used to the company’s advantage.  You are targeting both, so be sure that you’re making the most of this process.

Check In and Provide Feedback

Now, you may think that this part right here will annoy your employees. However, if you’re just going to set the proper expectations and let them know how the company will conduct the assessments, then you’re likely going to observe cooperation, especially when your employees will feel validated and that action steps are truly imposed. Though you can’t do away with ones who will especially find this process tedious, they’ll warm to the idea when you explain the importance of this process genuinely.

Consistently checking in will not only let you gather essential data, but you are also setting a habit and eventually a culture where feedback is supported. This will also help build rapport naturally and make you and your employees strengthen workplace relationships. This is important when you want to support your employees while also assessing their performance as a whole.

When you provide feedback, keep in mind that you don’t have to do it formally at all times. Even informal ways like casual group talks over coffee are deemed helpful. Just make sure it’s something that’s not out of the blue or where it’s inconvenient for the employees. Lastly, alternate between informal and formal meetups so that you will still maintain a boss and employee relationship. Over familiarity can cause a lot of damage when left unchecked.

Frequent and Clear Communication

This is one of the best ways to measure employee performance. However, if you’re going to use this as a tactic, apart from your monthly or annual feedback, you have to have frequent and clear communication with your employees. Having frequent and clear communication is essential when you want to set measurable goals, and you can do this by being consistent.

This is ideal for all your employees but most importantly those that are not doing well at work. You can opt to do a group performance assessment feedback but one-on-one feedback is better when you want to do a personal assessment that requires individual coaching. Plus, it’s also a great way to express sensitive concerns.

During your sessions, make sure to have an objective with documentation. In this way, you can look back and use it as your guide to check the progress of your employees. You can also discuss this with their direct manager for assistance.

Be Consistent

In whatever you do at work, you have to keep things consistent. When you’ve finally made it into a habit to conduct performance management programs, it’ll be easier for the employees to adjust and accept the culture when this is so. In fact, it can give them a sense of participation when you consistently and genuinely let them contribute every time you meet for feedback.

It’s apparent. When you keep it consistent, this is where you’ll see growth. The more you focus on something, the more milestones and learnings you’re going to uncover. Additionally, it supports fairness because you have more room to focus on each department in the company as long as you allocate your consistent time to each role per department.

With consistency, you can organize and standardize things. Knowing this, you can schedule interviews at regular intervals. You can also have frequent forms given to employees at certain times of the month for goal setting and perhaps identifying strengths and weaknesses. The ways to measure employee performance are endless, so you can surely apply any creative methods with your consistent time at hand.

Identify Excellence

This may be simple, but truly knowing what you think is excellent for your company will keep things in line with what your goals are for the business. If you know what kind of “excellent” you’re looking for, you can easily prepare the steps to achieve your goals not only for the company but for your employees too.

It’s best that you identify what your inner workings are, and this includes focusing on your workers. Since we are talking about employee performance, this would be a great tip when you want to make evaluations effective and efficient.

If you know what you’re searching for, then you can simply alter and pick employee performance processes that are in line with your goals. Are you planning to integrate personal development for your employees? Do you want to do this to help assess employee performance or use this as a determinant for their salary? As long as you are ultimately making a positive impact while maintaining your goals, then you know you’re on the right path.

Let Employees Evaluate Your Processes

In measuring employee performance, one great way to maximize this process is by letting your employees evaluate it. You’re not the only one evaluating them, but they should too. It’s easy to disregard blindspots when it comes to company processes, so it’s helpful to have them voice out their feedback because they are the ones who are undergoing the process themselves, allowing you to gather their firsthand experiences.

In this way, you can handpick the feedback you’re going to use to better your employee performance management process. Ask them if they fully understand their responsibilities in the company. Ask them if they know how to grow in their respective careers and if they think that the program they’re in supports this.

Once you’ve gathered enough, don’t hesitate to make alternations. It’s through changes that we can ensure that there’s growth. Make the most out of this step, and you’ll see that not only is your company thriving but your employees too.

Integrate SMART Goals

You’ve probably heard of SMART goals, a great method that’s used in all kinds of goal setting. S.M.A.R.T is referring to specific, measurable, achievable, realistic, and timely goals to apply in the work setting. In turn, you can also integrate this into measuring employee performance.  

Be specific by providing understandable and clear processes. When setting measurable goals, verify them first and make sure they’re results-oriented. When it comes to choosing attainable milestones, make sure they don’t bore your employees. Make these challenging for them while still retaining realistic goals. Lastly, organize your schedules. If you have a deadline, you’ll stay on track. You can keep up with your overall progress this way.

The SMART method has been used a lot in companies and is proven to be one of the most effective tips to keep track of your goals. Apply this when you want to assess the performance of your employees and even use it for making them improve by setting personalized goals for each employee.

Be Clear with Your Measurements

The last in our list will talk about measurements. Now, in what way can we apply this when assessing your employees’ work performance? Well, you can do so by being clear with how you’re going to measure them. Are you follow a certain checklist or metric system? How do you do your evaluation? Performance can be seen subjectively. That’s why you should bring objectivity to it.

Being clear with your measurement is an efficient way to keep consistency. In addition, you’re treating your employees fairly. If you follow a strict metric system, you are awarding or reprimanding your employees based on their results and not because of personal matters.

Setting a metric system will depend on what you’re aiming for. Whatever you use, make sure that they are concise and in line with what your ultimate goals are. Still, you can come back to it and alter it in any way you deem helpful. You’re encouraged to let your employees see the metric system too. Sitting down with them as a group or individual can not only give them a physical view of their progress, but they can also suggest ways to improve it. These are some of the best tips that you can apply when you want to enhance how to measure employee performance. They’re simple, applicable to any kind of business, and effective. As long as you integrate these consistently, then you’ll surely see results.

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