Performance Management Archives - Somers HR Solutions

Your Managers Aren’t Managing

5 Signs They’ve Become Task Supervisors Instead of People Leaders Most companies don’t have a performance problem. They have a management problem. That may sound harsh, but I see the pattern repeatedly. A good employee gets promoted because they know the business, work hard, and can be trusted to get things done. Suddenly, they’re responsible…

The “Working Manager” Tightrope: Balancing Output and Talent

The transition from Individual Contributor (IC) to management is rarely a clean break. In today’s lean organizations, the “pure” manager is a vanishing breed. Most new leaders find themselves in the role of the Working Manager—tasked with delivering their own high-level technical output while simultaneously being responsible for the growth, performance, and engagement of a…

Do You Have Ready-now Successors for your Small to Medium-sized Business?

In small to medium-sized businesses (SMBs), the departure of a key leader isn’t just a HR “to-do”—it’s a potential existential crisis. Unlike large corporations with deep benches, SMBs often operate with “single-point-of-failure” roles. To ensure your business doesn’t just survive but thrives during a transition, you need more than a name on a piece of…

Better Together: A Practical Guide to Building Real Collaboration at Work

High-performing teams don’t “click” by accident. They’re designed—through clear norms, shared tools, and leadership behaviors that make it safe to ask questions, share ideas, and challenge assumptions. Here’s a playbook business owners and leaders can use to raise the bar on collaboration without slowing execution. Start with clarity people can rally around Make meetings smaller,…

Managing Performance Review Conversations: A Guide for Managers

For many organizations, that time is of year is rapidly approaching – the annual performance review. The phrase “performance conversation” often brings a sense of dread to managers. However, reframing your mindset from judge to coach can transform these challenging situations into opportunities for development and growth. Shift your perspective. A performance review should be…

We’re Living in a VUCA World – Implications for Performance Management

In today’s business landscape, the only constant is change. Market shifts are sudden, technology evolves at warp speed, and global events can turn a well-laid plan on its head overnight. This is the reality of the VUCA world, and it has profound implications for how we manage performance. For those unfamiliar, VUCA is an acronym…

The Art of Letting Go: How Delegation Supercharges Performance Management

In today’s fast-paced, complex work environment, a manager’s plate is always full. From strategic planning to putting out daily fires, the demands can feel endless. But what if one of the most powerful tools for improving both your team’s performance and your own isn’t about doing more, but about doing less? Welcome to the world…

The Leader’s Guide to Navigating Difficult Conversations

Introduction: The Unavoidable Imperative of Difficult Conversations VUCA (Volatility, Uncertainty, Complexity, & Ambiguity) is back and certain workplace interactions are characterized by high stakes, differing opinions, and strong emotions. These are what I define as “difficult conversations”. They are not merely uncomfortable exchanges but are exchanges that require the sensitive management of both emotions and…

Beyond the “Feedback Sandwich”: A Better Way to Give a Performance Review

The “feedback sandwich”—a slice of constructive criticism wedged between two layers of praise—is a well-intentioned but often ineffective method for delivering a performance review. While it might seem like a gentle way to soften the blow of difficult feedback, it can leave employees confused and undermine the very message you’re trying to convey. Think about…

“Mise en Place”: What HR Can Learn from the Culinary World

Applying a Chef’s Discipline to Elevate Human Resources If your home is anything like mine, cooking shows have become a staple of mindless entertainment. To my amazement, I actually picked up a concept from the shows that I now seek to apply to my work with clients. In professional kitchens around the world, chefs rely…