What is effective performance management?

According to Paul Loftus - a management consultant currently on the Island to lead two Bermuda Employers Council (BEC) seminars - performance management is an on-going process and should be much more than an annual employee evaluation.

Performance management is the subject of the first of two BEC seminars. The three-day workshop - which is being attended by Argus Insurance, Bermuda Land Development Corporation and Pearman Watlington - concludes tomorrow.

"Gone are the old days with the one-hour, once-a-year dread talk," Mr. Loftus said, of performance management. "If dialogue is effective and ongoing, there are no surprises.''

As an industrial psychologist who has been giving seminars on the Island for more than 15 years, Mr. Loftus said performance management can be used for many reasons beyond giving employee performance feedback. He said it can also be a tool for companies to identify who should be promoted, and effective training needs analysis - within an objective framework with equitable ratings.

Proper performance management can also pave the way for successful succession planning, Mr. Loftus added.

Mr. Loftus said the seminar was specifically planned for October, as many businesses will be considering next year's promotions and salary increases, during November and December.

The performance management seminar is geared to company managers who either directly take part in performance reviews, or oversee team members' reviews.

A second workshop will take place on Thursday and Friday, with a focus on management skills for senior and executive secretaries.

Mr. Loftus said with downsizing, many middle managers have been pushed out. And he said many of the tasks which fell to middle managers are now being met by management assistants or secretaries.

Mr. Loftus added that the title of secretary was being phased out and replaced by management assistant or personal assistant. Mr. Loftus said a "secretary" now does much more than typing and filing, and new job titles reflect the increase in responsibilities.