Performance Management Process

Vanderbilt is committed to fostering a high-performance culture. To achieve this, we strive to provide each employee in our organization with clear performance objectives, ongoing coaching and feedback, professional development, and recognition for outstanding work.

When problems arise with an employee's performance, we assume that the employee wants to be a successful performer and will commit to making and sustaining the necessary improvements. The performance management process is used for both performance (substandard performance) and discipline issues (unacceptable behavior, attendance). Employees and supervisors should contact their HR Consultant for effective administration and assistance with understanding these new policies.

Performance Management policies

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Resources

As an institution, we are always striving to make things better. No organization or work unit is perfect and all organizations can be better next year than they were last year. With that in mind, we are introducing a new model to enhance organizational, departmental, and individual performance.

This new process is designed to facilitate conversations between team members and their leaders that enhance organizational and individual success through reflection, planning, goal-setting, problem-solving, and honest and constructive feedback. In preparation for discussions between team members and leaders, consider the following four challenges:

Four Challenges for Leaders
April – June: Preparation and Annual Conversations
Envision Desired Outcomes Envision what better could mean next year through discussion with the leader’s leader, assessment of departmental and team priorities. Resources Envision the Desired Outcome – A Tool for Leaders
Explain the Vision Inspire team members by sharing the vision and desired outcomes. Describe how our departmental values will guide our actions and enhance our outcomes. Resources Explain the Vision – A Tool for Leaders
Establish Contribution Goals Discuss with each member of the team their contributions to making the organization better next year; this is a two-way dialogue where your direct reports also contribute their ideas on how to best proceed. Review accomplishments from the prior year and determine goals regarding what the team member does and how it is done. Resources Leader Template for the Kickoff Discussion Develop Work Goals Success Factors for Leaders Success Factors
October, January, April: Quarterly Calibrations
Ensure Alignment During the Year Support each team member so they are aligned and make progress as expected throughout the year in order to accomplish better outcomes. Conduct regular team and one-on-one meetings as well as quarterly check-ins. Resources One-on-one Conversation Guide Quarterly Check-In
Throughout the Year: Regular Team and One-on-One Meetings