Appraisal checklist

If you want to introduce an appraisal process, you need to go about it in the right way. Before it’s set up you need to think about some important points, including what the meetings will cover. After that, you must brief all managers on your new procedures. Follow our appraisal checklist and you won't forget anything.

Ready to appraise

Appraisals are a two-way process. They allow both you and the employee concerned to review their progress over a particular period of time, e.g. a year, and set goals for the future. If you're thinking of introducing them you need to go about it in the right way; it’s not as easy as having a ten-minute chat.

Our Appraisal Checklist goes through a number of stages. It starts with the steps you should take when introducing this type of scheme. These include:

• setting the appraisal process objectives
• ensuring that your managers understand the process; and
• considering whether it will suit all employees (this is a must).

It then goes on to look at what the appraisal will cover. This is up to you, but might include:

• reviewing previous performance
• setting goals for the future
• identifying any training needs.

Check it out

The checklist then moves on to look at how you should support your managers and what they should be told about this process. Finally, it looks at what directions the employees should be given, e.g. to come fully prepared.

Note. Appraisal systems are all individual - just like the employers who use them. So our checklist can't ever be exhaustive; it is simply a guide that you can build on for your own business.