Annual objectives are not secrets

In Oakwood we regularly hear about organisations where line managers, and sometimes Human Resources teams, complain that performance management (PM) is no more than a bureaucratic paper-pushing exercise. This demonstrates a fundamental misunderstanding of PM. After all, PM is really just…

• Making sure people understand what work they need to do and why they need to do it
• Checking that they are doing it to acceptable standards and taking action if standards drop
• Once it’s done, reviewing and evaluating the work to try and learn from it

… and that seems no more or less than good management.

So here is a simple change to operating practices that makes a big difference to the impact and effectiveness of PM. STOP MAKING INDIVIDUAL OBJECTIVES SECRET.

There is no reason for most PM objectives not to be made public knowledge within the organisation. Obviously, those that concern confidential information should not be disclosed to everyone, but such objectives are rare.

So rather than hiding people’s PM objectives in drawers or filing cabinets or computer files, let other employees see them. If space allows, have every person in the organisation write their own objectives on a white board close to their desk or workstation. Put them on the intranet. Put team, department and divisional objectives on noticeboards.

Doing so will have a number of benefits:

• Most people will put more care into the creation of objectives, knowing that they will be under public scrutiny
• The whole PM process will be policed better by the people involved with it
• Less-than-SMART objectives will be spotted and revised
• Ambiguities, repetitions and gaps in coverage will become obvious
• Different people’s objectives will become more consistent
• Understanding of other people’s jobs will improve
• ‘Silo mentalities’ will become less common

If people also record their performance beside their objectives, even more benefits will accrue:

• Good work will be spotted and reinforced more easily
• Shortfalls and problems will be more noticeable and so hopefully easier to solve
• People will be able to ‘horse trade’: offering help with others’ objectives if their own are furthered

Go on. Try it!