Date:   Wednesday, March 21, 2012         Time:   1:00 PM - 2:00 PM EDT You may not know that two of most important steps managers can take to encourage high performance from employees is to (1) tell them what is expected and (2) give them the tools to manage themselves to the stated objectives. So how does one use tools to set expectations? Even if your organization does not have a formal performance management program, there are still things that you can do to use certain highly effective performance management tools and set the standard for your organization. These tools also work extremely well when employees are having trouble meeting performance and conduct standards. Sometimes the reason an employee is not doing what is expected is that the standard was never made clear. Most employees want to do what is expected and may just need more clarity about what that is. When bringing clarity one must remember that performance management is much more than a system or program. It’s a way of managing that will bring immediate and long-lasting results for any manager who commits to using the tools you will learn about in this webinar. So what are you waiting for? Don’t wait another day. Sign up for our free webinar! In this webinar, you will: Learn the five key elements every good performance management system needs Understand the importance of establishing clear expectations and performance measures Review the basics of providing ongoing feedback to ensure effective employee performance Try out a simple process for writing performance standards After registering you will receive a confirmation email containing information about joining the Webinar. System Requirements PC-based attendees: Required: Windows® 7, Vista, XP or 2003 Server Macintosh®-based attendees: Required: Mac OS® X 10.5 or newer … [Read more...]

February 7, 2012 2:00 p.m.   Throughout your career, you’ve probably experienced first-hand the value of business networking.  And you’ve probably noticed that you don’t network only to advance your career.  You also use networking as a tool for getting the job done. By providing structured and intentional guidance to employees at all levels of your organization on how to build effective internal and external networks, you can help them do their jobs more effectively. In this webcast, consultant, author, and networking expert Lynne Waymon will showcase  the role HR can play in teaching employees how to develop social acumen and impact the social capital of your organization.  She’ll talk about how networking can help them uncork bureaucratic bottlenecks, work cross-functionally, and collaborate more effectively with internal and external partners. In the July 2011 issue of the Harvard Business Review, Cross and Thomas report that, “Executives who rank in the top 20% of their companies have diverse but select networks made up of high-quality relationships with people who come from several different spheres and from up and down the corporate hierarchy.” To help your employees and leaders hone the skill of networking to impact organizational outcomes Lynne will discuss: What’s the role of face-to-face networking, high-touch networking in our plugged in, high-tech, work remote world? The 8 Networking Competencies every employee needs to master. Research showing how and why unconnected employees drag down the business - and what to do about it. 3 ways to ensure that your Employee Resource Groups teach and promote  cross-functional and collaborative skills. 5 strategies for building networking skill development into your mentoring, leadership, and orientation programs. Call Gail at 301-299-0607 or email her at gmcgaha@spisolutions.com to reserve your spot! … [Read more...]