Setting standards of performance from your employees
The success of your business is directly related to the commitment and productivity of people working in your company. And yet it is generally recognized that 60% of employees, or more, are underutilized in their roles at work.
What are the factors contributing to low performance standards and expectations?
Communication, or mal-communication is a major source of low productivity. The messages that move between the owner, employees, managers and even clients are not understood in the same way. A classic example is that owners of businesses tend to assume that employees and managers see things the same way they do.
Managers tend to lower their expectations (unconsciously) so you do not have to deal with employees. Most people do not like to talk about diminishing returns with their employees, and actively avoid having to do by reducing expectations of heir to what is required.
Employees tend to protect against possible failure by rolling back in what is expected. They often negotiate / negotiation of the work to a more comfortable level.
Business owners often have difficulty separating what they want done in the way they want done. For your employees exactly how to achieve a given objective leaves no room for the employee to think or use their own initiative. Consequently, they often stop trying to contribute and be "sheep" - doing what they say. This Catch-22, the owner is forced into a position where it must be constantly telling everyone exactly what to do.
Some owners can not understand the concept of person and the job search, and have done the wrong people in wrong positions. This can be very daunting for the worker.
So how do you go about setting Performance standards and expectations?
The owner and employees should work together.
They must work together in the fact that the employee's role serves can be improved in a way where everyone wins - the employee, the owner, and business. When teaching the owner to cooperate with the employee, not only the yield rises, but so does morality.
Short-term goals, or win, should be established. 90-day is ideal.
Establish specific goals for the employee in increments of 90 days so you do not have a chance to review systems and progress, and the experience gained on a routine basis. Ideally, employee participation in the process of setting this target so as to experience some control over their work.
Determine strengths needed to do the job.
If the employee is going to succeed, the owner and the employee should decide together what the strengths are necessary, and how the employee will be able to apply their strengths. This is where having a good match between the employee and the work is so important. The boss has to find this on your own - that the employee probably already know what is needed.
Establish standards and determine how they will do.
Decide on the rules that apply each activity and how standards will be achieved. Understand the level of performance that requires the employee gives you a sense of accomplishment - which is one of the ingredients key to achieving performance standards. This is true for employees at all levels.
Establish communication agreements.
To ensure success, the owner and the employee must decide at the outset how they will communicate the progress (or problems) on the road. Will the day to day? Week to week? The minimum time frame is week to week. Less often than that and everything falls apart.
The employee decides how to achieve results desired.
The owner will be present and participate in this part, but it is essential that the employee manages the process so they have ownership. Help the worker to assume responsibility for deciding how to achieve results. You may have to determine if the employee has the skills and development to do this. If not thus, provide maximum guidance to them.
Get writing.
If not in writing, within one or two weeks everyone will be confused and uncertain. The focus, accountability, resources, constraints, schedules and all measures must be in writing. The purpose of doing this is to ensure the owner and employee are so clear about the objectives and the process that there is no confusion. It sets everyone
Set a tracking method.
Be sure to get an agreement on how performance will be monitored and how often. For the process to go forward, the employee must agree to monitor their own performance, and the owner must agree to sit down and review with the employee at a predetermined timetable. Let know in advance that, if activated and begin to cancel the meetings, will not enhance performance and expectations are not met.
I recommend having the employee monitoring their progress in writing and advise the owner a week. A simple weekly progress update is a win-win solution and can take as little as 5 minutes. One month to sit face to face is a must too.
What are the benefits of establishing effective performance standards and expectations?
Employees feel encouraged and empowered to take possession of their offices.
Ownership in and inspired energy, leaving lower expectations in order to avoid confrontation.
The company productivity goes up.
Everyone knows what is expected of them, which provides security to move forward.
This process in itself opens new channels of communication between owners and employees.
About the Author
Megan Tough is director of complete potential, a leadership and HR consultancy based in Sydney, Australia.
At complete potential we understand people - what engages them, what encourages them to perform, and what drives them away. With over 20 years experience working on HR issues in business, our job is to help you make the most of your investment in people. To learn more visit www.completepotential.com
PC laptop connected to the standard monitor - but turns off when notebook nearby? Help?
I have a HP DV6000 note book PC connected on a normal PC (monitor, keyboard, mouse, etc.). I want to be able to close the notebook PC while keeping the desktop monitor as I use my computer as a desktop. I am running Windows Vista. Any ideas?
Open Control Panel Go to the attainment and maintenance Click Power Options Click the Advanced tab Change "When I close the lid of my portable" to do nothing
 |
 20 SODALITE GEMSTONE SILVER PLATED BEAD NECKLACE CHAIN  US $.99 |  Sanitary Water Treatment Wastewater Training Course CD US $7.95 |  Shallow Foundations Engineering Training Book Course US $7.95 |
 Soil Nail Walls Nailing Construction Training Course US $7.95 |  Huge Surveying Training Course Manual Value Bundle US $17.99 |  Topographic Surveying Geodetic Training Course Book CD US $7.95 |
 5MM 12X12X6MM WHITE JADE PIETERSITE GEMSTONE BEADS 15PCS US $.99 |  ADJUSTABLE 16 2 3 18 1 3 GREEN AVENTURINE GEMSTONE NECKLACE US $.99 |  Huge Walls and Slopes Training Course Value Bundle US $20.99 |
 MISS LONELYHEARTS The Day of the Locust Nathanael West 1969 Paperback US $2.49 |  49X49X8MM NATURAL PICASSO JASPER PENDANT BEAD US $.99 |  NEW West Elm Organic Rice Pintuck Pillow Sham 2 US $39.99 |
 23X18X16MM TURQUOISE GEMSTONE NUGGET BEADS 10PCS US $.99 |  RAINBOW JASPER AMAZONITE GEMSTONE PENDANT BEAD SETS US $.99 |  6MM GREEN AVENTURINE GEMSTONE FACETED ROUND BEADS 14 2 3 US $.99 |
| Powered by phpBay Pro |
 | Maverick ET-71OS RediChek Remote Wireless Cooking Thermometer With LCD Transmitter List Price:  |
DescriptionSet the desired temperature and it beeps and flashes when its reached that temperature. The remote has a 100 foot range and LCD transmitter. The stainless steel probe wire is 42 inches long. Both the receiver and transmitter have fold out stands and belt clips for easy access. |
 | Hafele Ellipta Basic Long Monitor Arm, Standard 3-5 kg, Aluminum, Silver Sale Price: $135.58 |
DescriptionThe Ellipta Monitor Arm for Flat Screens from Hafele features a unique weight-tensioning spring that allows you to position the monitor with your fingertips. Multiple arm lengths, two weight-carrying ranges, two desk mounting options and other mounting options are available... |
 | Hafele Ellipta Basic Medium Monitor Arm, Standard 3-5 kg, Aluminum, Silver Sale Price: $103.99 |
DescriptionThe Ellipta Monitor Arm for Flat Screens from Hafele features a unique weight-tensioning spring that allows you to position the monitor with your fingertips. Multiple arm lengths, two weight-carrying ranges, two desk mounting options and other mounting options are available... |
 | P3 International P4400 Kill A Watt Electricity Usage Monitor List Price: |
DescriptionEmpowers You to Save Hundreds on Electric Bills Electricity bills are rising. Now you can cut down on costs and find out what appliances are actually worth keeping plugged in. Simply connect these appliances to the Kill A Watt, and it will assess how efficient they really are... |
 | Wireless IP Pan/Tilt/ Night Vision Internet Surveillance Camera Built-in Microphone With Phone remote monitoring support(Black) Sale Price: $44.68 |
DescriptionSpecs: |
 | Belkin Conserve Socket F7C009q Energy-Saving Outlet List Price: |
DescriptionConserve Socket Power Timer. Many of the electronics and appliances around your home use electricity even when they're not in use wasting energy and driving up your electric bill. The Conserve Socket Power Timer automatically shuts off power (including standby power) to your electronics and appliances after a time interval you select to help you save energy... |
 | Superman List Price: |
DescriptionThis is the game Superman for the Nintendo 64. This is cartridge only and is used or preplayed. All of our N64 nintendo games are cleaned comma tested and guaranteed to work. We stand by our products and offer a 60 day guarantee... |
Eagle Gas Monitor Training - Non Standard Toxic Gas
Tags: reference, software, standard monitor cable, standard monitor dimensions, standard monitor resolutions, standard monitor size, standard monitors, tools, video, windows