Turning Dread into Opportunity: Performance Reviews Reimagined

As another performance review season looms for many organisations, a familiar sense of dread may be settling upon employees and managers alike. Traditional performance reviews, often characterised by one-sided evaluations, anxiety-inducing metrics, and a focus on past shortcomings, have earned a reputation for being more of a burden than a benefit.

But what if performance reviews could be different? What if they could be a positive, empowering experience that fosters growth, engagement, and high performance? At Peritas , we believe that's not only possible but essential. Our values-based approach transforms performance management into a continuous journey of development and recognition.

Why the Traditional Model Falls Short

Traditional performance reviews tend to compartmentalise different aspects of an employee's contribution:

• Individual Performance: How well do they meet their role's specific requirements?
• Team Contribution: Do they collaborate effectively and support their colleagues?
• Values Demonstration: Do they embody the company's core values in their daily actions?

While these are important factors, evaluating them separately fails to capture the interconnectedness of an employee's impact. What if we could weave these aspects together into a richer, more meaningful assessment?

The Power of Values Alignment

Research consistently demonstrates the profound impact of values alignment on team performance. A study published in the Academy of Management Journal found that teams with shared values exhibit higher levels of trust, cooperation, and ultimately, performance.

The Harvard Business Review emphasises that "Shared values provide a common framework for decision-making. They guide behaviour, and individuals can work independently, knowing that their actions are guided by shared values." This sense of shared purpose and direction is a cornerstone of high-performing teams.

Values-based performance reviews ask questions that naturally integrate all three dimensions of individual performance, team contribution and values demonstration. This approach enables an organisation to gain a clearer picture of an employee's alignment with the company culture and their overall contribution.

Peritas Expedition Reviews

Our performance management system, centred around our ‘Expedition Reviews’, because we love our adventure culture, is designed to assess how employees embody our core values in their daily work. We ask thought-provoking questions that encourage reflection and demonstrate the tangible impact of values on actions and outcomes:

• Relentless: Describe a situation where you demonstrated relentless pursuit of a project goal, overcoming obstacles and setbacks.
• Courageous: Share an experience where you exhibited courage by proposing a new idea, challenging the status quo, or advocating for a different approach.
• Curious: Give an example of how you demonstrated curiosity during this review period. Did you actively seek out new knowledge, explore innovative solutions, or challenge assumptions?
• Conscious: Give an example of how you were conscious of the impact of your work on others, the environment, or the broader community.

The Need for Continuous Feedback

A Deloitte survey revealed that 58% of executives believe their current performance management approach is ineffective. They crave something nimbler, real-time, and more individualised. At Peritas we firmly believe in the power of continuous feedback to drive growth and engagement. Research by Gallup has shown that employees who receive regular feedback are three times more likely to be engaged at work.

Our bi-monthly 1-on-1 sessions, facilitated by the Culture Amp platform, provide a structured framework for ongoing dialogue, performance discussions, and coaching. These sessions empower employees to take ownership of their development and enable managers to provide timely, relevant feedback. We also have a feedback/shout out function that enables people to be recognised in real time for their contributions to our organisation!

Future Ready Workforce

The traditional performance review model is firmly rooted in the past. It assesses what was done, not what can be done. At Peritas, we're not just evaluating past performance; we're actively cultivating a future-ready workforce.

As we move beyond the era of dread-inducing performance reviews, we invite you to join us in embracing a new paradigm—one that prioritises values, continuous feedback, and employee empowerment.

Our Peritas model is not just about evaluating performance; it's about unlocking the full potential of every individual and team!

Are you ready to transform your performance management process into a catalyst for growth, engagement, and success? We are always looking for ideas on how to improve our systems for our employees, so share you ideas with us on performance reviews that have worked for you!