As employees pursue challenging goals, they may be bursting with energy and enthusiasm, but their performance can fall terribly short because of issues related to organization. Such matters are often regarded solely as managerial functions, but the truth is that, every day, employees at every job level are taking specific actions in these arenas, along with numerous related actions to keep their work on track, on target, and on time.
Because much of the information that employees receive on matters of planning and organizing is in written form, it’s particularly important for written feedback in this area to be clear, focused, and functional.
Organizing
Exceptional: Consistently exceeds expectations
Runs a highly organized department
Organized a totally chaotic department
Organizes for the short term and the long term
Brings outstanding organization to all projects
Excellent: Frequently exceeds expectations
Is highly regarded for her organizational skills
Organizes projects to prevent overlaps or gaps in responsibilities
Is always able to access needed items or information
Logically organizes his work and work area
Fully competent: Meets expectations
Helps co-workers get organized and stay organized
Sets aside time regularly to organize work
Has her own system for organizing, and it works
Uses a highly effective organizing system
Marginal: Occasionally fails to meet expectations
Is more concerned with being organized than getting the job done
Has an organizing system that is so personalized that it’s incomprehensible
Has a work area that is a giant mess
Unsatisfactory: Consistently fails to meet expectations
Suffers from a lack of organization in every aspect of his work
Can spend hours looking for items that should take seconds to find
Is the least organized person in the company
Planning
Exceptional: Consistently exceeds expectations
Is highly skilled at generating employee buy-in on plans she establishes
Is truly a master planner
Helps others to develop and implement plans
Is well regarded for his planning skills
Is systems minded
Establishes plans, policies, and practices that improve performance and productivity
Establishes contingencies when situations require the plans to be altered or refined
Establishes realistic plans
Is typically well ahead of plan when it comes to progress and performance
Sets plans for success and then effectively implements them
Is equally skilled at long-term and short-term planning
Involves employees in the planning process
Excellent: Frequently exceeds expectations
Sets realistic plans
Establishes plans that are down to earth and workable
Sets a standard for planning that others are inclined to follow
Effectively communicates plans to all who need to know
Makes plans, but is never overwhelmed by them
Makes the best use of technology to establish and communicate plans
Fully competent: Meets expectations
Stays on plan and helps others to do the same
Monitors plans and progress every day
Creates plans that are thorough without being cumbersome
Develops strategies, but never loses sight of the goal
Lets others know when plans need to be changed or adjusted
Supports plans with all the necessary documentation
Leaves very little to chance
Marginal: Occasionally fails to meet expectations
Creates plans that are so detailed that they stifle the employees
Tends to make plans at the last minute
Establishes unrealistic plans
Plans for the expected outcome, instead of planning for the unexpected
Makes derogatory comments about the planning process
Waits for problems, instead of anticipating them
Waits until the last minute to determine the necessary resources, which by then are often unavailable
Shows minimal interest in planning
Unsatisfactory: Consistently fails to meet expectations
Leaves everything to chance
Does not believe in planning
Establishes unworkable plans
Creates plans that are skimpy and unusable
Regards planning as a waste of time
Takes a wait-and-see approach on every project
Fails to plan, leading to failure
Relies on yesterday’s plans
Believes that she doesn’t need to plan
Ignores the established plans
Commits to formulate plans, but then does nothing
