Wednesday, November 27, 2019

Why Employee Performance Appraisal Just Doesnt Work

Why Employee Performance Appraisal Just Doesnt WorkWhy Employee Performance Appraisal Just Doesnt WorkSecond only to firing an employee, managers cite wertmiger zuwachs appraisal as the task they dislike the most. This is understandable given that the process of performance appraisal, as traditionally practiced, is fundamentally flawed. The process is hurtful and demeaning and both managers and employees avoid these conversations. In fact, according to Chris Westfall, author or publisher of eight books about management, Poor communication- and even avoiding communicating altogether- is a serious problem in organizations. A2016 Harris Pollreveals that a stunning 69 percent of managers arent comfortable talking to employees forany reason at all. Worse still, one in five business leaders feel uneasy delivering the company line or even recognizing employee achievements. Take this discomfort with communicating day-to-day in any event and take it to the next level with performance appraisa l. It is incongruent with the mission-oriented, participative work environments favored by forward-thinking organizations today. It is an old-fashioned, paternalistic, top-down, autocratic mode of management which treats employees as possessions of the company. The Traditional Performance Appraisal Process In the conventional performance appraisal or review process, the manager annually writes his opinions on the performance of a reporting staff member on a document supplied by the HR department. In some organizations, the staff member is asked to fill out a self-review to share with the supervisor. Most of the time, the appraisal reflects what the manager can remember this is usually the most recent events. Almost always, the appraisal is based on opinions as real performance measurement takes time and follow-up to do well. The documents in use in many organizations also ask the supervisor to make judgments based on concepts and words such as excellent performance, exhibits ent husiasm, and achievement oriented. Many managers are uncomfortable in the role of judge, so uncomfortable, in fact, that performance appraisals are often months overdue. The HR professional, who manages the appraisal system, finds his most important roles are to develop the form and maintain an employee official file, notify supervisors of due dates, and then remind them if the review is long overdue. Despite the fact that annual raises are often tied to the performance evaluation, managers avoid doing them as long as possible. This results in an unmotivated employee who feels his manager doesnt care about him enough to facilitate his annual raise. Why Employee Performance Appraisal Is Painful The manager may be uncomfortable in the judgment seat. He knows he may have to justify his opinions with specific examples when the staff member asks. He may lack skill in providing feedback and often provokes a defensive response from the employee, who may justifiably feel he is under att ack. Consequently, managers avoid giving honest feedback which defeats the purpose of the performance appraisal. In turn, the staff member whose performance is under review often becomes defensive. Whenever his performance is rated as less than the best, or less than the level at which he personally perceives his contribution, the manager is viewed as punitive. Disagreement about contribution and performance ratings can create a conflict-ridden situation that festers for months. Most managers avoid conflict that will undermine workplace harmony. In todays team-oriented work environment, it is also difficult to ask people who work as colleagues, and sometimes even friends, to take on the role of judge and defendant. Further compromising the situation, with salary increases frequently tied to the numerical rating or ranking, the manager knows he is limiting the staff members increase if he rates his performance less than outstanding. No wonder managers waffle. If the approach taken is the traditional one it is harmful to performance development, damagesworkplace trust, undermines harmony and fails to encourage personal best performance. Furthermore, it underutilizes the talents of HR professionals and managers and forever limits their ability to contribute to true performance improvement within your organization. A performance management system starts with how a position is defined and ends when you have determined why an excellent employee left your organization for another opportunity. Within such a system, feedback to each staff member occurs regularly. Individual performance objectives are measurable and based on prioritized goals that sttze the accomplishment of the overall goals of the total organization. The vibrancy and performance of your organization are ensured because you focus on developmental plans and opportunities for each staff member. Performance Feedback In a performance management system, feedback remains integral to successful practice. The feedback, however, is a discussion. Both the employee and his manager have an equivalent opportunity to bring information to the dialogue. Feedback is often obtained from peers, direct reporting staff, and customers to enhance mutual understanding of an individuals contribution and developmental needs. (This is commonly known as 360-degree feedback.) The developmental plan establishes the organizations commitment to helping each person continue to expand his knowledge and skills. This is the foundation upon which a continuously improving organization builds. The HR Challenge Leading the adoption and implementation of a performance management system is a wonderful opportunity for the HR professional. It challenges your creativity, improves your ability to influence, allows you to foster real change in your organization, and it sure beats the heck out of nagging.

Friday, November 22, 2019

6 quotes you can take out of context to promote your business

6 prozentsatzs you can take out of context to promote your geschftliches miteinander6 quotes you can take out of context to promote your businessOver the course of history, many-a-great person has said many-an-inspirational thing. Such things span millennia, marking or precipitating momentous, world-changing events. They carried a generation through war, heralded progress toward racial justice, ushered new steps toward gender equality, and so much more.And now, you can take these timeless, era-defining inspirational quotes wildly out of context to sell your app or promote your business or whatever. Here are 6 examples to show you how.1 It always seems impossible until its done. - Nelson MandelaThis is a quote attributed to South African human rights activist, presumably about his work ending racial apartheid. While theres absolutely no concrete evidence that he actually said this, that shouldnt stop you from using it to motivate your team to stay up late working on a feature that yo ull probably just replace next week anyway. Plaster your office walls with a custom-made deutsche bundesposter of these hard-hitting words about racial injustice to remind your all white, all-male engineering team that they can accomplish whatever you set their minds to.2 Dont follow the path. Go where there is no path and begin the trail. When you start a new trail equipped with courage, strength and conviction, the only thing that can stop you is you - Ruby BridgesIn 1960, six-year-old Ruby Bridges sparked a school-wide boycott by becoming the first Black student at an all-white school in the Deep South. Use her struggles to your benefit by copy-pasting this quote onto the company mission slide of your next pitch to VCs to convince them that your candy-themed mobile gaming app is the new trail to greatness.3 Success always demands a greater effort. - Winston ChurchillIn 1940, British Prime Minister Winston Churchill quotably stated the obvious to Robert Menzies, Prime Minister o f Australia. Now, you can repurpose his words to push your sales team to meet their unrealistic quotas. Program this quotation to greet them while Slack is loading, and theyll always feel the pressure to put in a greater effort into selling your HR software to mid-to-large sized tech companies.4 Failure is impossible. - Susan B. AnthonyAt 86, the leader of the suffragette movement realized shed never live to see women gain the right to vote, and told a group of young activists to keep on keepin on. You can conveniently misappropriate this message meant to motivate half the population to fight for their democratic rights and use it to remind Caitlyn from Marketing that if she doesnt get the monthly newsletter out by Tuesday, she can kiss her job goodbye.5 If you cant fly then run, if you cant run then walk, if you cant walk then crawl, but whatever you do you have to keep moving forward. - Martin Luther King Jr.When the face of the American Civil Rights Movement addressed students at Spelman college in 1960, he encouraged them to keep advancing in the fight for justice. But no one will ever know that when you take it out of context and slap it over an ocean sunset to post on your brands Instagram page. Use MLKs fight for racial justice to your advantage and show your followers (and investors) that even when business is slow, youre always moving toward your IPO.6 Energy rightly applied and directed will accomplish anything. - Nellie BlyThis was the life motto of Americas first female investigative journalist, who overcame institutional sexism to become a pioneer in the field of journalism in the late 1800s. Now, you can use her mantra to sign off on emails and remind all recipients that you are rightly applying your energy writing product updates that even your mother wont read.This is just the beginning of all the quotes the internet has to offer. And if you cant find an inspirational quote to fit your business needs, just make something up and misattribute it to someone smart.Illustrations by Ian Wilson.This article first appeared onThe Cooper Review.

Thursday, November 21, 2019

Common Job Scams and How to Avoid Them

Common Job Scams and How to Avoid ThemCommon Job Scams and How to Avoid ThemThere are as many scams as real job openings erreichbar - sometimes it seems like more. How can you tell the difference between zugreifbar job scams and legitimate job openings? It can be really difficult to tell the difference between what is real and whats a scam. Scammers are getting more sophisticated and coming up with new ways to take advantage of job seekers all the time. Before you apply for a job online, especially work at home jobs, review typical job scams and scam warning signs to help you determine if a job is a scam. If youre elend sure, take the time to research the company to make sure the job is legitimate. Types of Online Job Scams There are many online job scams that take advantage of job seekers in a variety of ways. Scammers have several purposes, depending on the scam - to collect confidential infassonation to use for identity theft, to get you to cash fraudulent checks or to wire or send money, and to get you to pay for services or supplies. Job scams are posted on Craigslist and other job boards and forums, as well as on social networking sites like Facebook and Twitter. In other cases, you may receive unsolicited email from scammers. Its important to be vigilant and check out every job youre interested in to make sure its legitimate. Online Job Scam Warning Signs Youre offered a job without an application, interview, or discussion with the employer.The company asks you to wire money or asks for your leistungspunkt card information.The company asks for personal information like your social security number or drivers license number.You are promised high pay for not much work.The company asks you to pay for a leistungspunkt report as part of the application process.You are told you have to pay for training.Youre asked to cash a check and forward some of the money to a third party. The salary details arent clear. If the company doesnt pay an hourly rate or a salary, carefully investigate the details. Check Out the CompanyGoogling the company name positiv scam or rip-off will give you some information on the company if its not legitimate. Visit the companys website and if they dont have one or it doesnt have contact information, consider that a warning sign. Check out the company with the Better Business Bureau. Job Scams List A - Z Review a list of the most common job-related scams and tips on how to avoid getting scammed. Craigslist Job ScamsCraigslist Writer / Research Assistant ScamsData Entry ScamsEmail Job ScamsEntrysLinkedIn ScamsNanny ScamsPersonal Assistant ScamsPersonal Loan ScamsPhone Call From a Recruiter ScamVisa ScamsWork at Home Scams Employment and Career Scams In addition to job-related scams, there are other scams related to employment. Whether its trying to sell services or paid training or offering to file for unemployment for you, there are many different types of scams to avoid. Here are some of them Bait a nd Switch ScamsWith this scam, you apply for a job and are selected for an interview. During the interview, you discover that the job you applied for doesnt exist and the company tries to interest you in a completely different position.? Scam Details When a company is hiring for jobs that nobody wants, they believe they may be able to more readily convince someone to take the job if they discuss it with them in person. Career Consulting ScamsYou may be contacted by career consultants who are impressed with your resume and would like to represent you. In addition, you may be interested in their marketing, resume writing, resume reviews, or other career-related services.? Scam Details In reality, this is a pitch for products or services the company wants to sell you. Credit Report ScamsThis scam occurs when an employer asks to see your credit report as part of the hiring process and you end up paying a fee for obtaining a credit report or for other services. In addition, the scammer c an collect your personal information and steal your identity. How does this type of scam work? The employer requests that you use a specific free service that ends up costing you money. However, the employer isnt a legitimate employer and you may end up paying for a credit report. ExamplesThese examples were sent by email to job applicants who responded to job postings online. We would like to take this moment to thank you for your response to our Craigslist job posting, as well as inform you that, after reading through your resume, we are interested in discussing this job opportunity with you in person. In order to proceed to the next step of the hiring process, you will need to get your credit score checked.We have arranged a FREE service for you to obtain your score. Once you have completed this process, please email me the confirmation ASAP, so we can move forward. Direct Deposit ScamsDirect deposit scams involve getting job applicants to give out their bank account informatio n. These scams, which are often posted on Craigslist and other job boards or sent via email, often offer a position that seems too good to be true - high salary, minimal hours, no in-person interview required. The scammer then says he can only deliver your paychecks by direct deposit, and he, therefore, requires your account information.After giving the scammer your account numbers, he will take money from your account, and you will never hear from the employer again. This scam is especially common among work-at-home and telecommuting jobs. Scam DetailsWhile direct deposit is convenient, most legitimate employers do not require it. Therefore, never share your bank account information or agree to a direct deposit beforechecking out the company and the jobto make sure they are legitimate, accepting a job offer and completing new hire paperwork. Money Laundering Job ScamsMoney laundering scams are some of the most common online job scams. Money laundererspost jobs onlineor simply send out emails saying they are hiring employees to help process payments or transfer funds. Scam Details Very often, the fake employer says he is from a foreign country and thus cannot transfer funds himself (and also cannot meet you in person). He or she will ask you to use your personal bank account to move what are actually stolen or bad checks and have you keep a small percentage of the money for yourself. When you deposit a bad or stolen check, you are liable to the bank. Not only will you have to pay the bank, but, because the money being transferred is typically stolen, you could be arrested for committing theft. Related Scams Other money laundering scams occur when an employerhires you for a fake job but says he can only pay you viadirect deposit. He will then ask for your account information and personal information. Rather than paying you, he will use this information to access your account. Recruiting Scams Recruiters may contact you saying that have clients with positions th at you could be qualified for, though they dont have current openings. However, they also offer training sessions you should purchase to enhance your candidacy.? Scam Details This is another attempt to sell you services, rather than to recruit you for legitimate job openings. Phishing Scams In this type of scam, you get an email saying a company has clients with positions that you could be qualified for, even sending you the description of what could be a legitimate job opening Your online resume has recently come to my attention. I am impressed with your qualifications. A client of mine needs to fill an opening and because of your previous experience in the tech industry, I believe you might be a solid match. In order to see the full job description, just click on the link below or paste it into your browsers address bar. Scam Details You cant apply directly for the job. Instead, you are directed to a link on a website, where you fill out a form with your contact information and ot her personal information. This is an attempt to collect your personal information either to sell you services or to sell to a third party. Shipping ScamsShipping job scams offer you a work-at-home job, promising that you can earn a lot of money by reshipping - repackaging and forwarding goods. In many cases, this is a scam. There arent many legitimate reasons why a company would need someone to ship or reship merchandise for them. Its easy to send merchandise directly without having a third party repack and resend it for you. Also considered postal fraud, these scams have become prevalent as more and more Americans looking for employment seek work-at-home jobs. These companies often seem legitimate, claiming to be engaged in correspondence managing or distribution. Do not be deluded by companies that seem legitimate or by the promise of an impressive salary. Home receiving/shipping is not an actual job. Scam Details How do reshipping scams work? The company will ask you to pay for s hipping, and then promise to reimburse you later. However, what you are repackaging and forwarding are actually stolen goods - often consumer electronics. If the company actually pays you back, it will be with a fake check. You will ultimately have to pay for shipping charges and be liable to your bank. Also, if the company asks you to declare the packages as gifts, you may be found guilty of falsifying government documents. Unemployment ScamsPeople or companies offer to complete or file your unemployment insurance claim for you - for a fee. They may say they have a connection to your State Labor Department and can expedite the processing of your claim. Scam Details There is no benefit to paying a service to file your claim. In fact, some states probit anyone other than the claimant from accessing the unemployment system. Unemployed workers should file their own claims for unemployment via the state unemployment office website or by phone. Using a paid service to file your claim wil l not ensure faster handling. More About Avoiding Scams How to Tell if a Job is a Scam Sometimes, it seems that there are as many scams as legitimate job openings. Here are warning signs to help you determine if a job is a scam.Report a Scam Heres how to report a scam, including where and how to report an employment scam.