Managing Poor Performance Training

Hosting performance conversations : The Complete Training Course Description

By Dana Harris, Business Expert

Course Overview

Performance management doesn't have to be the conversation you've been dodging. In working with Australia businesses over the years, I have seen the amazing shift in mindset that occurs when leaders stop seeing these interactions as confrontational and instead start to see the possibility for true growth and development.

This full leadership training is perfect for managers and team leaders who are serious about transforming their perspective on performance conversations. Instead of selling you a canned, one size fits all solution, it offers research based frameworks that you can adopt in your workplace immediately. You will get to uncover what is really behind performance issues and how to respond with tailored approaches for the individual and the business.

By using real Australian workplace examples and interactive activities, this course brings best practice performance management into an invaluable package that gets you the results of stronger teams and better business performance.

Learning Outcomes

After completing this course, you will:

Identify and rectify root causes of sub performance, before they become major organisational problems

Enable structured performance conversations with fact based visuals that maintain professional relationships and get to resolution

Create impactful PIPs with clear expectations, reasonable time frames, and adequate supporting processes

Provide a factual, balanced paper trail of performance that benefits all sides

Are informed when to persist with an improvement effort and when to abandon it in favour of other approaches

Handle emotions and relations in difficult performance discussions

Create accountability systems which promote improvement rather than simply scrutiny

Keep your team's spirits up and firing on all cylinders during performance management procedures

What You Will Learn

Module 1: Understanding Performance Challenges

There are a number of factors — skill gaps, lack of resources, motivation shortfalls, systemic roadblocks, among others — that can play a role in how poorly performance is. Understand diagnosis tools and techniques which can help you to understand what performance problems you are seeing.

Module 2: Detection and Prevention at an Early Stage

Learn how to identify early indicators that performance problems may be emerging, and create a supportive environment in which team members can seek help before issues become serious.

Module 3: The Framework For The Performance Conversation

Learn a formulaic way of handling hard conversations that replaces opinions with facts. Build strong question asking skills and problem solving skills in collaboration.

Module 4: Designing Performance Improvement Plans that Work

Design PIPs that help employees succeed, and not just to tick compliance box. Get good at having realistic goals, reasonable deadlines, and actual emotional support.

Module 5: Documentation and Legalities

Know what to record and when to record it, while keeping records that protect both sides. Understand when and how to involve HR responsibly.

Module 6: Managing Emotions and Relationships

Learn to keep your emotions in check and stay professional during difficult discussions that address strong workplace relationships as well as serious performance issues.

Module 7: Supporting Without Micromanaging

Develop accountability structures that are empowering yet results based. Strive for the proper mix of support and independence.

Module 8: Making Difficult Decisions

Learn how to honestly evaluate the progress, and then how to make some tough calls about whether to proceed with improvement efforts. Learn how to use 'outcome focused meetings' to change negative patterns with dignity with little or no conflict.

Module 9: Protecting Team Dynamics

Learn the impact of team morale and productivity on performance management. Discover how to communicate effectively and how to keep teams motivated with performance management.

Module 10: Implementation and Sustainability

Create customised action plans to apply new skills and knowledge. Develop mechanisms for continuous surveillance and early preventive intervention against future performance problems.

Course Format

The interactive format of this course features workshops, case study discussions and exercises. The program provides participants with complete template documents, conversation guides and decision tools for direct implementation in the workplace.

Concluding Remarks

Performance management is a teachable skill that can elevate careers and culture. This masterclass will empower you and give you the tools to confidently, proactively and constructively address the performance challenges without breaking the relationships in the team.

They leave prepared to turn those fear filled performance conversations into developmental ones. Instead of shying away from tough situations, they become more courageous and they can deal with tough stuff, building better teams, more positive work conditions and better business results.

The time and resources spent building these core people management skills yield enormous returns in the form of increased team output, greater retention, and higher overall workplace satisfaction.