Tips & Tools

Everyone who supervises a staff member at MSU plays an important part in the Performance Excellence process. Use the tools below to help you carry out your role effectively.

Step 1:  Performance Planning Meeting

• Supervisor Guide to the Performance Planning Meeting
  Tips for preparing and conducting the Performance Planning meeting with your employee. 
• Assessing Learning Needs
  Learn to identify skills or behaviors your employees will need to develop in order to be useful to your department.
• Goal Setting Tips
  Learn about SMART goals, as well as tips for identifying appropriate performance goals for your employees.
  
• Sample Goals for Different Roles
  Use these sample goals to identify performance/development goals you want to discuss with your employees.
• Professional Development Impact Map (PDF)
  Use this tool to help identify your organization's goals and keys to achieve them through employees' skills.
• Position Description Template (PDF)
  This template should clarify the roles and responsibilities of each employee.
  
  

Step 2:  Continuous Feedback, Coaching and Development

• Tips for Effective Coaching Conversations
  Providing feedback and coaching to your employees is crucial throughout the Performance Excellence process. Use these tips to guide your conversations, strengthen effective behaviors and address poor performance.
• Conversation Starters for High Performance
  Use these questions to keep conversations between you and your employees relevant, focused and valuable.
  
  

Step 3:  Annual Performance Review

Important Update : supervisors can find tips and resources for conducting and completing the Annual Performance Review during this period of remote work.  Find resources and tips here.

• Conducting the Annual Performance Review
  Review these tips to help you have a successful Annual Performance Review with your employees.
• Annual Review Form Instructions
  Find detailed information for how to fill out the Annual Performance Review Form.
• Managing Reactions Constructively
  Tips for how to navigate conversations with your employees if they become defensive or unresponsive.
• Behavioral Competencies
  Find definitions about work behaviors to enhance discussions and achieve consistency of understanding.
• Annual Performance Review Preparation Worksheet (Word)
  Use this tool as your prepare for the Annual Performance Review with your employee.
• Expectation Development Worksheet – Individual Activity (Word)
  Use this tool to help you clarify your employee's position objectives and expectations for specific tasks.