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 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