Keeping your employees engaged is critical at any point, but never more so than during a business challenge. However, when an organization faces internal or external difficulties, leaders often focus on operational solutions rather than human capital ones.
Of course, you need to fix operational problems, but you also have to keep employees motivated so they’ll want to tackle the issues at hand. That’s why you must also be dedicated to consistently managing employee performance. Granted, this can be hard to do in normal times, and even more so when operating under the stress of rapid change, but technology can help. A tool, like performance management software, benefits you and your organization, helping you navigate your team forward.
Evolving to More Effective Performance Management Systems
Employee performance management used to mean a dry annual performance review that focused more on past performance than planning for the future. For that reason, many businesses have stopped using formal annual performance reviews and turned to systems that offer continuous performance management. To implement this approach effectively, businesses are turning to employee performance management software.
With continuous performance management, instead of having a once a year retrospective, managers and employees have ongoing performance discussions. Frequent one-on-ones, for example, are forward thinking, with the purpose of discussing progress on goals and uncovering any issues. Additional periodic performance conversations let you and your employees have more in-depth conversations about performance, training needs and career goals. These communications don’t just help you and your employees stay on track. They help build relationships and a sense of belonging, which increases employee engagement.
But for all of the good it does, performance management isn’t inherently easy, especially when it comes to keeping track of when conversations need to occur and what topics should take place during them. For that reason, many companies turn to performance management software to make the process easier.
Performance Management Software Benefits
Performance management software can provide numerous advantages when you want to proactively manage your employees’ performance. When you are comparing employee performance evaluation software, look for advanced platforms that can:
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Document regular meetings, goal progress and 1:1 details. Keeping notes and having easy access to them is vital in creating a performance system that works. You can quickly see what challenges your employee mentioned in the last meeting, and follow up to see their progress. A good performance management system lets you schedule meetings and get reminders to help you ensure they do take place. Committing to these meetings shows employees you are invested in their success.
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Set up target goals and determine if they’re being met. Ideally, performance management is the responsibility of both you and your employees. Giving them the autonomy to keep track of their goals provides self-accountability. Even as target goals are established, it should also be easy to adjust them as needs change. You want your employees to be able to pivot when needed; and a performance management software system should be able to do the same.
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Feature a dashboard of metrics with vital information. It should be easy to get to the information you and your employees need to see most often at a glance. Both parties should be able to access a dashboard that highlights progress on goals, frequency of meetings and areas to develop. The simpler and more intuitive the platform, the more likely it will get used. The more it is used, the more beneficial it becomes.
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Allow self and peer assessment, including recognition. Studies show recognition is key to employee engagement, and software that encourages public and private acknowledgement, celebration and feedback, supports a culture of teamwork.
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Support development opportunities. Employees want companies to invest in them and their growth. In a LinkedIn study, 93% of employees said they would stay longer at a company that invested in their careers. A performance management software system that integrates a learning management system makes it easier to plan and track employee development plans and progress.
As beneficial as this type of software is, effective performance management begins with leaders who are consistently employee-centric. SyncHR’s performance management tool, Bridge, gives those leaders the advantages needed to keep employees engaged and on task, whether times are good or bad. Schedule a demo with one of our solutions consultant to see how this software can help your organization grow.

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Pamela is a freelance marketing writer who specializes in Human Resources and HR technology. With 16 years of HR and writing experience, combined with a journalism degree and an MBA, Pamela delivers compelling content that engages the audience and effectively conveys the marketing message.