Appraisal Training for Managers

Master the Art of Performance Management

Communication

Effective Communication

Develop your performance management skills with practical, hands-on training and personalised coaching sessions.
Skills

Develop Your Skills

Develop emotional intelligence, assertiveness for real-world challenges, enhancing your professional growth.
Lasting

Lasting Impact

Experience sustained improvement in performance management with continuous practice and feedback.

Refine your communication skills by learning to harness your emotional intelligence with one of the UK's most acclaimed management training courses.

Why Choose This Training?

More Than Just A Course Of Lectures

What gets in the way of developing and holding on to new communication skills are old habits of thinking and speaking. Even if the advice is very good the reason why it rarely sticks are the mental habits people inevitably revert to, especially under pressure.

Unlearning those old habits and internalising a more effective and lasting approach to communication needs more than a short course of lectures on how to do it.

What Makes This Training Stand Out?

What makes this training stand out is the exceptional support through one-to-one coaching sessions and continuous feedback. Changing behaviour is not an easy task as old habits are hard to break.

With a 40-year track record we can help you cultivate practical skills, and build your confidence to so you can successfully navigate real-world challenges, ensuring lasting behavioural improvements.

Testimonials

Join thousands of participants getting results

"What I love about this course is that I didn't just learn about the topic, this course is about ME.  I'm confident I can reliably use my new skills, even when under pressure".

5 stars

A Project Manager At A Tech Company

"A lesson for life! The power of effective communication is incredible when one masters the skills "listening with empathy" and "speaking assertively"

5 stars

A Project Quality Engineer

Clients We Have Worked With

Well-known companies who have used this course again and again, over many years

  • Amgen 3
  • BBC
  • aunt bessies
  • Cargill 2
  • Heinz Logo 3
  • Civil service
  • NHS 2
  • Kelloggs Logo 2
  • IGT
  • JM 4 copy
  • Schweppes 3 logo
  • Castrol 3
  • Dewhirst 2
  • avon logo png
  • Nestle Logo
  • RSPB Logo 2022
  • Shell
  • UNHCR 3
  • unilever 2
  • BP 2
  • FBN 2

Course Summary

Training Objectives

This course is designed to help you develop your feedback skills. You'll boost your skills to carry out effective appraisals more confidently, and increase your ability to successfully manage people's performance.

Develop Your Emotional Intelligence

You will learn a set of powerful emotional intelligence communication techniques so that you can manage difficult conversations, handle challenging situations, build relationships and set firm boundaries.

Transferable Skills

The goal of this training is to equip you with the tools they need to build strong, lasting relationships in your professional life, although because these skills are so transferable many clients report vast improvements in their personal relationships as well.

Develop Skills

This is a skills development rather than just a theoretical programme, so the emphasis throughout will be on you taking turn after turn, practising your skills, while receiving feedback and coaching about your effect on others.

Repeated Practice and Feedback

In your coaching sessions you will be helped to practise dealing with the kinds of situation you find challenging, again and again, until you are confident you can do it successfully.

Video Analysis

We'll combine practical, hands-on experience with video replay and analysis and discussion of the principles involved to help you gain both skills and understanding. Special attention is paid to your individual training needs, so you can practise your skills in real-life situations that you have to handle at work.

Sustained Change

That's why as well as your place in a small group, this training includes a generous amount of private and confidential one-to-one coaching sessions online, spread over several months, ensuring an exceptional level of support. This will ensure the changes you make are sustained over a longer period of time and any obstacles are overcome. Choose between online training available worldwide, or in-person face-to-face courses in the UK.

Course Dates and Price

For a list of upcoming course dates (for online coaching and face-to-face training), the locations of the next 3-day public courses in the UK and pricing Click here.

Free Initial Session

This initial coaching session serves as an introduction to the "Skills with People" course, allowing you to understand the course's relevance and effectiveness for your specific needs before committing to it.

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People can't help arguing when they feel misunderstood

Appraise to Excel

Take your performance appraisals up a notch so you can improve staff performance, foster a positive work environment, and motivate you team.

Learn the skills and knowledge you need to conduct appraisals that inspire others to drive results.

Have the confidence to confront people with honest feedback about their performance if you're not satisfied, without causing offence.

Whether you're new to the appraisal process or looking to improve your existing process, this training course provides hands-on training and one-to-one coaching using emotional intelligence techniques and tools for conducting fair and effective evaluations.

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Assertiveness, Listening Skills & Emotional Intelligence Training

What Makes This Appraisal Training So Effective?

For more than 40 years this appraisal training course has proven to be one of the most highly acclaimed. Over the years we've had thousands of managers and professionals through our hands. Many have said it's one of the best appraisal training courses they ever attended. We have helped our clients develop their own management skills so they can communicate more effectively, and succeed in both their personal and professional lives.

Appraisals are a critical aspect of the human resources (HR) function and play a crucial role in improving employee performance, fostering a positive work environment, and driving results. This appraisal training course will help equip HR professionals, managers and leaders with the fundamental skills and knowledge you need to conduct effective performance evaluations. So, what makes this such a good appraisal training course?

Topic

Benefits of this Appraisal Training Course

Performance Evaluation Best Practices

- Setting clear, achievable goals

- Conducting regular check-ins

- Providing honest feedback

- Recognizing and rewarding success

Training Methods

- Role-playing exercises

- Case study group discussions

- Video analysis of conversations

- Instant feedback

- One-to-one coaching

Addressing Performance Issues

- Gaining confidence to confront issues

- Effectively addressing performance problems

- Winning team member's support for solutions

Continuous Improvement Culture

- Becoming accustomed to evaluating performance

- Using the performance appraisal training process informally to motivate and inspire

- Fostering a culture of excellence within the team

 

Best Practices

You'll learn best practices for conducting performance evaluations. This includes how to set clear, achievable goals, how to conduct regular check-ins that aren't just perfunctory, how to provide honest feedback, and how to recognise and reward success when it's earnt, and you're impressed.

Training Methods

You'll practice how to conduct effective performance evaluations. Role-playing exercises, case study group discussions, and video analysis of your conversations, with instant feedback and one-to-one coaching will all help you apply what you've learned in real-world scenarios, rather than just passively learning from generic examples.

Address Performance Issues

Appraisals are also an opportunity to address performance issues and help your employees improve. This training course will give you the confidence to confront and effectively address performance issues when they arise, and then win the enthusiastic support of your team member to work with you to find solutions.

Continuous Improvement

The appraisal process is an invaluable tool for creating a culture of continuous improvement. You'll not only become accustomed to evaluating their performance without making a meal of it, you can also use it informally to motivate and inspire team members to strive for better results. By understanding how to use the appraisal process effectively, you can help foster a culture of excellence within your team.

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People who feel understood are more receptive

Why Do Some People Struggle Giving Honest Feedback During An Appraisal?

Some people may be afraid of causing conflict or offending others by providing difficult feedback, which can lead them to them avoiding it altogether. However with proper guidance, feedback and practice you could become good at "giving it to people straight" without having to worry whether the way you've worded it might ruffle their feathers.

Those who have not very experienced in management may not know how to give honest feedback effectively and may be unsure about what to say or how to say it. If you come on this course you'll learn very quickly. Not only in theory, but also in practice.

They may be concerned about hurting the other person's feelings or damaging the relationship. This is a legitimate concern, especially if the person on the receiving end is fragile or (over) sensitive. On this course you can learn how to express your concerns diplomatically, and still be honest, without having to pull your punches.

Some people may be intimidated by the power dynamics involved in giving feedback to someone who is higher up in the organisation. It is pretty common for people to feel nervous about saying what they really think to the boss, especially if they believe the boss isn't going to like it. However, there is an easy to understand emotional intelligent technique for speaking your truth and getting away with it, even to someone senior and intimidating.

Personal bias can impact their objectivity, making it difficult to provide constructive feedback that is fair and accurate. On this course we'll teach you to become more self-aware so you can remove this unhelpful habit.

With the training give on this course, anyone can learn how to give feedback effectively and make appraisals a valuable business tool.

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Now he listens before jumping to conclusions

Is This The Right Appraisal Training Course For You?

Might your need to be more successful at performance management and appraisal be met by this London UK based training course called Skills with People

Yes, it might if you agree with the following statements

When I'm responsible for performance management I wish people were more receptive to having their performance honestly appraised.

I often feel uncomfortable criticising people's performance for fear of demotivating them.

I'm uncomfortable praising people for fear of patronising them during an appraisal.

I wish I knew how to give balanced, honest, matter-of-fact praise and criticism in such a way that I get the best out of people during an appraisal.

What you'll take away from this performance management and appraisal training course

This course will help you lose your fear of performance management and appraisals. It'll give you confidence in your appraisal skills. People will benefit enormously from both your praise and your criticism. You'll become much more successful at developing people

Performance management is an ongoing process that involves setting clear objectives, providing feedback, and working together to improve employee performance. Performance appraisal, on the other hand, is a more formal process where employees are assessed based on their performance against predetermined objectives.

Effective performance management and appraisal processes are necessary to achieve your team's goals and to maintain a motivated and productive workforce. On this course you'll learn how to identify areas for improvement and provide critical the feedback so you can support them as they grow and excel in their jobs.

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Now by involving people he takes them with him

Common Challenges Faced By Managers During Appraisals

Managers often face challenges when implementing performance management and appraisal processes. These challenges can include a lack of clear objectives, poor communication between managers and employees, and insufficient training for managers to effectively conduct performance appraisals.

Benefits of Performance Management and Appraisal Training

By investing in good performance management and appraisal training, managers can reap a number of benefits. Some of these benefits include:

  • Improved communication and relationships between you and your team, leading to better understanding and alignment of goals.
  • Increased team motivation and job satisfaction, as they receive constructive feedback that inspires them to want to do better, as you support for their development.
  • Better alignment of their individual and your goals, ensuring that everyone is working towards the same objectives.

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Learn how to be both firm and fair

Components Of An Effective Performance Management Process

An effective performance management process consists of several key components, including:

Setting clear expectations and goals: As a managers you need to be able to set them SMART objectives (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, and Time-bound).

Providing constructive feedback

Regular feedback is essential for your team to understand their performance and areas for improvement. As a manager you need to feel comfortable giving effective feedback. This includes generous praise as well as constructive criticism. On this course you'll become an expert in providing feedback, because you'll be drilled in it.

Conducting effective performance evaluations

Performance appraisals should be conducted fairly and objectively, focusing on past performance and future development opportunities.

Identifying areas for improvement and development

As a team managers you need to work with your team to create development plans that address skill gaps and support their career progression. They'll be encouraged to know you've got their interests at heart, and are willing to support their development by recommending training and opportunities for career progression.

Incorporating employee self-assessment

Encouraging your team to assess their own performance allows them to take responsibility for their development and contribute to the appraisal process, rather than to sit passively waiting for “work mummy” or “work daddy” to do it for them.

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Learn to get taken more seriously

Best Practices For The Appraisal Process

To ensure a successful performance appraisal process, a manager can adopt the following best practices:

Developing clear objectives and goals

Clearly defined objectives and goals provide your team (and employees generally) with a roadmap for success and make it easier to assess their performance.

Creating a supportive and inclusive learning environment

An environment that fosters open communication, collaboration, and respect will encourage employees to engage with the appraisal process and be receptive to feedback.

Utilising a variety of teaching methods

This performance management training course can provide you with a mixture of training methods. It's mainly practical, rather than theoretical, so you'll have lots of opportunity to practice appraising people. You'll then receive feedback about what effect you had, and you'll be able to adjust your approach if it don't come across the way you intended.

Providing ongoing support and development opportunities

If you can follow up on agreed action plans and offer additional resources, through mentoring or additional training courses, you team will be more likely to become motivated and inspired to give you want you want.

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She now feels more confident in tackling people

What's Difficult About The Performance Management And Appraisals?

How the skills you'll practise on this course will make you more successful at performance management and appraisal

The biggest obstacle to success in performance management and appraisal is that most of us react defensively to criticism. This reaction is a normal part of human nature. People tend to see criticism as a personal attack even when it isn't. And the trouble is, once you've put someone on the defensive it's hard to get the best out of them.

Can this obstacle be avoided? Is there a way of appraising people and managing their performance which we can be confident they'll experience and react to positively? The answer is a definite yes ... if you're prepared to use the skills and understanding this course about performance management can give you.

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Assertiveness, Listening Skills & Emotional Intelligence Training

What Do You Need To Understand About Performance Management And Appraisals?

You need to understand that people's ability to react rationally to what you say depends on how they feel. The heart rules the head. It's a biological fact. There's no way round it. If as a result of something you say people feel disapproved of, it'll be very hard for them to be anything other than defensive. On the other hand, if you can make them feel genuinely approved of they'll be much more receptive to what you say.

Some people call this emotional intelligence. It's the art of understanding and handling your own and other people's feelings. You'll greatly increase your emotional intelligence on this performance management and appraisal training course.

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Now he listens before jumping to conclusions

What Skills Do You Need To Be Successful At Performance Management And Appraisals?

First, the more specific and factual your feedback the more effective it will be during an appraisal. This applies as much to praise as to criticism. There's no need to make vague generalisations if you stick to the facts about what the person said or did, what were its specific consequences, and why you're encouraging them either to carry on doing it (as when you're praising) or to do something different (as when you're criticising).

Second, you need to develop the art of praising. If your praise is specific enough and genuine enough it will make them feel approved of. When they feel approved of they're much more likely to trust you and be receptive to what you say. To praise successfully requires patience and a generous attitude. Even though there may be criticism to follow, it works better if you hold back on the criticism until you've told them what you specifically like about their performance.

Third, you need to develop the skill of silence. It takes time for people to absorb your praise and respond to it. They might be surprised to hear it. They might want to thank you for it, or ask you to say more about it. Slowing down and having silent pauses can greatly improve your success in this kind of performance management and appraisal conversation.

Fourth, your criticism needs to be as clear, factual and succinct as your praise. This means being open and honest about specifically what you don't like about their performance. If your praise has succeeded in making them feel approved of, you can be as tough as you need with your criticism and they won't take it as a personal attack.

In a nutshell, what you'll learn on this performance management and appraisal training course is how to combine honest, straight, tough talk with respect and kindness.

I'm not used to this way of talking.  How am I going to change the habits of a lifetime?

The answer is by lots of practice, seeing videos of yourself in action, lots of specific feedback about how you're coming across to others, and lots of skilful coaching and encouragement. That's what you'll get on this performance management and appraisal training course.

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Are you helping them think for themselves?

Is there more information on this website relevant to performance management and appraisal?

Yes. You might also find our pages on feedback and criticism and emotional intelligence relevant and useful.

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Get Started Now

Free exploratory coaching session

The first session is free so you're not committing yourself until you're sure this training is relevant for you. You will also learn something practical you can use right away that'll help you handle a difficult situation more successfully at work.

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