Understanding Peer Appraisal: Implementation and Benefits
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We have all gone through a performance review at some point. Whether we're sitting on the comfy side of the desk or sweating in the hot seat, about 80% of modern companies still have a formal appraisal process in place. Most of us aren't particularly happy about it, but we know it's another part of working in the 21st century.
But does it have to be that way?
Performance reviews don't have to be impersonal, awkward conversations between an employee and their manager (who usually doesn't know them very well). What if we created a world where relationships, Reviews among colleagues gaining the upper hand? And what if they were even better than the traditional methods?
Peer reviews are gradually becoming the industry standard for performance reviews, decision making, driving growth and - even better - creating an accurate picture of team members. Some experts even believe that peer performance reviews could be the future of performance evaluation. Bye, embarrassing reviews!
Let's explore the concept of peer review in more detail, including how it's measured, why it's beneficial, and how you can implement it in your company.
What is a peer assessment?
Before we talk about employee reviews, let's briefly talk about traditional performance reviews.
These outdated dinosaurs are used for one purpose only: to measure an employee's performance using metrics, data, or a numerical scale. These usually include work performance, team cohesion or random factors such as dress code. Although each company has its own way of measuring and grading performance, it is usually expressed in the form of a five-point scale - with 1 being the worst and 5 being the best.
In case you didn't know, traditional assessments are completely outdated. Not only do they not capture the whole person, but they also rarely involve people who know the employee and their work processes. This leads to your real top performers not being recognized - and worse, leaving them dissatisfied.
There is a better solution. Peer assessments evaluate team members based on feedback from their peers. Colleagues and front-line employees have the opportunity to speak honestly about a person while providing insightful details.
The advantages of peer assessment
Peer assessments are getting a lot of attention these days, and for good reason. These are just some of the most obvious benefits of such a change:
- Peer reviews are extremely honest. They come from real people who have their finger on the pulse of the times.
- Peer reviews fairly assess work. They are also much more accurate than top-down numerical approaches.
- Peer appraisals evaluate colleagues much more comprehensively. No team will be left behind!
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Tips for measuring peer assessment
With all this talk about peer assessments, let's not forget the important point! Unlike traditional appraisals, employee appraisals can be much more dynamic when it comes to assessing the value and performance of your employees.
There are three main procedures to choose from:
- Peer ranking
Similar to selecting a team for physical education class, employees can rank their colleagues from best to worst performer. Remember that a lower ranking does not necessarily mean that employees are doing a bad job. It simply becomes clear which members of the department perform better than their colleagues.
- Peer reviews
In this approach, team members evaluate their colleagues based on performance metrics. All team members receive a sheet on which they rate their colleagues, the results are collected and averaged. This option is best suited for more traditional businesses that are trying to break new ground.
- Nomination by colleagues
This type of measurement is definitely the most fun on the list! Employees are given the opportunity to select the best employee from a pool of colleagues. Although the selection can be made based on certain metrics, the group should make a decision based on knowledge of their colleagues.
You may decide to use a different assessment method that is different from this list, and that's okay! Just stay away from anything too formal, okay?
3 Ways to Integrate Peer Assessment into Your Business
Are you ready to join the peer assessment revolution? Start small and work your way to full integration with these four steps.
- Inform your managers
Give your managers the tools they need to conduct peer assessments with confidence by providing them with plenty of details and training materials.
- Digitize
Enable teams to provide their feedback through different channels, such as: via anonymous survey software.
- Involve your teams
Educate your employees about the new appraisal process and connect them to any resources they may need.
With a little time and a little hard work, you'll be well on your way to introducing employee reviews into your company.
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