Improving the performance of staff is hard enough; maintaining and building on that improvement present even greater challenges for managers. Most improvement processes consist of four stages—agreeing on the standards or expectations, monitoring progress, recognizing achievement, and reviewing the performance displayed. Recognition and review will also feature prominently in any maintenance plan. To foster ongoing improvement in your staff, consider the following strategies proposed in our eight-page e-Topic How to maintain improved performance…

1. Link behavior to outcomes.
2. Demonstrate your commitment to continuing improvement.
3. Reinforce desirable behaviors.
4. Encourage staff to blow their own horn.
5. Listen to what staff members have to say.
6. Encourage ‘reflective structures’.
7. Show your appreciation.

The e-Topic elaborates upon those strategies and concludes with a wealth of useful hints, advice, anecdotes and inspiration to help the reader better understand and implement the core material presented.

Do you want a brief fragment from the wealth of practical information in this e-Topic?
“Remember that the skills development of your staff isn’t a cure-all for underperformance in your business. There are many reasons other than lack of skills why your organization’s performance might be lagging. Perhaps, for instance, your business’ IT system is outdated or its financial management needs to be improved. It’s not always your people who should be the focus for improved performance.”

Simple, step-by-step solutions to your management problems and issues – that’s the aim of our e-Topics series. For busy managers, it’s literally management2go!