I have always been a big fan of Dilbert. I used to clip the comic strip from the newspaper and hang them in my office. At one point, I had a giant collage of Dilbert cartoons hanging on the wall of my office. There always seemed to be some whisper of truth that I could connect with. These comics even helped shape some of my leadership and management style, mostly telling me what not to do. I thought I would share some of these with you.
Performance Reviews
It is the end of the calendar year and most organizations are implementing performance reviews and creating performance plans for the next calendar and/or fiscal year. I have always thought it best to follow a standard process that has performance check-ins throughout the year.
A basic model would be:
This means that you will be meeting several times throughout the year to assess job goals and objectives. Sometimes these can change throughout the year. This will also help, you as the employee, create measurable results for your job performance to help justify and quantify the work that you accomplish.
Employee Attitude
Performance reviews are also a good time to discuss any morale issues, professional issues, and for leadership to assess the level of office preparedness. I have always tried to keep a positive attitude and outlook any place I have worked in the past. I always try to keep a smile on my face. Many colleagues have commented on my smile and attitude in the past, saying that it is contagious and uplifting for them. Even during rough times or crisis situations, you have to keep a positive attitude, a level head, and keep moving forward.
I will share more of these in the future. What are some best practices that you try to have to both lead and manage your employees?