Here's how you can spot and resolve performance gaps in your team members as a program manager.
As a program manager, you're not just overseeing projects but also nurturing your team's growth and productivity. Spotting and resolving performance gaps is a critical aspect of maintaining a successful team. This requires a keen eye for detail, an understanding of individual team member's roles, and a strategic approach to problem-solving. By recognizing where your team may be underperforming, you can implement solutions that boost efficiency, morale, and overall success. Let's explore how you can identify and address these performance gaps to keep your projects on track.
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Kapil Sethi - PMP, CSMDelivery Manager with 20 years of experience | Program Manager | Director | Engineering Manager | PMP | Certified…
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Karuna KakResults-Driven Project Manager & Business Analyst | Specializing in Financial Services | Passionate Problem Solver |…
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Kathryn OrfinoProven Program Manager and Engagement Lead
To spot performance gaps, you must first recognize the signs. These can range from missed deadlines and declining quality of work to increased absenteeism and low morale. Regularly reviewing project timelines, deliverables, and team feedback can help you identify which team members may be struggling. It's important to approach this with empathy and understanding, considering personal or external factors that might be affecting their performance. Once identified, you can begin to address these issues before they impact the wider team.
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Here's how to spot and fix performance gaps in your team: 1. Track & Monitor: Watch project deliverables, deadlines, and stakeholder feedback for inconsistencies. 2. One-on-Ones: Schedule regular meetings to discuss observations and identify root causes. 3. Focus & Support: Develop targeted action plans to address specific performance gaps. 4. Offer Resources: Provide training, mentorship, or additional support to help team members improve. 5. Continuous Check-ins: Track progress and adjust the plan as needed to ensure success. Proactive communication and support are key to bridging performance gaps
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One of the best ways to recognize performance gaps before they affect the overall program is by ensuring that each team member has weekly deliverables. If a task will take longer than a week, collaborate with the team to break it down into smaller parts. This way, you can track progress weekly and avoid the potential surprise of realizing, 7 weeks into an 8 week timeline, that a key deliverable will be delayed.
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yo comenzaria definicion de rol y resposabilidad para tener claridad que se espera de quien este en el puesto luego revisaria cada item y su desempeño para generar una reunion de alineamiento y descrubir como lograr los objetivos del puesto del equipo del area, validar que se tiene que hace falta y partir de ahi con metricas para ir evaluando el progreso
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Key Performance Indicators (KPIs): Monitor KPIs to identify deviations from expected performance levels. Behavioral Changes: Look for changes in behavior such as decreased engagement, missed deadlines, or reduced quality of work. Feedback: Collect feedback from peers, subordinates, and supervisors to gain insights into potential performance issues.
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As a program manager, recognizing signs of performance gaps is crucial. Look for early warning indicators such as decreased productivity, missed deadlines, or disengagement. To resolve gaps, identify root causes, offer targeted training, and address workplace culture. Proactive intervention ensures a high-performing team
After spotting potential performance issues, delve into the root causes. Performance gaps often stem from a lack of resources, unclear expectations, or personal challenges. Engage in one-on-one discussions to understand each team member's perspective and to gather insights into any obstacles they're facing. This analysis is crucial for developing targeted solutions that address the specific needs of your team members and the program as a whole.
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Identify causes of performance issues is by asking individuals directly “what is stopping you from doing xyz”? Follow this up by asking “How can I/we help?” This approach can be used in one-on-one discussions, or if the company culture supports it, in settings such as a daily scrum or other brief standup meeting at the start of the day. Group discussions often lead to an immediate identification of root causes and potential solutions. The group setting can be particularly beneficial when performance gaps have yet to impact program objectives because it demonstrates to all team members that leadership not only monitors performance, but is actively working to remove roadblocks to success and help the team perform better.
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Root Cause Analysis: Conduct a thorough analysis to determine the underlying causes of performance gaps, whether they are skill-related, motivational, or due to external factors. One-on-One Meetings: Have candid conversations with the team member to understand their perspective and identify any personal or professional challenges they may be facing.
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Analyzing causes for performance gaps is crucial. Look for signs like decreased productivity or missed deadlines. Address root causes—lack of skills, changing job requirements, or ineffective management. Proactive intervention ensures a high-performing team
With the causes of performance gaps identified, it's time to set clear and achievable objectives for improvement. These should be specific, measurable, attainable, relevant, and time-bound (SMART). Discuss these objectives with your team members, ensuring they understand what is expected and by when. This clarity helps to realign their efforts with the program's goals and provides a structured path for them to follow.
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Clear Expectations: Set clear, specific, and achievable performance objectives aligned with overall project goals. SMART Goals: Use the SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable, Relevant, Time-bound) framework to define objectives and ensure clarity.
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As a seasoned program manager, spotting and resolving performance gaps involves setting clear, measurable objectives. Regularly review progress, identify deviations, provide constructive feedback, and realign efforts to ensure objectives are met.
Offering the right support is key to helping team members overcome performance gaps. This might include additional training, mentoring, or reallocating resources to ensure they have what they need to succeed. Encouraging a culture of open communication and collaboration within your team can also foster a supportive environment where team members feel comfortable seeking help when needed.
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Providing genuine support is arguably one of the most practical, yet least understood topics. This involves understanding individual challenges, offering resources, training, and mentorship, and fostering an environment that encourages growth and continuous learning. Right Support, when provided to the team, can make a Big Difference in improving outcomes and odds of success
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How can you best support your team? Just like you’d find out how to best reach your stakeholders, you’ll want to best support your team, and understand via emotional intelligence and conversation what they might need in terms of support. Think about how you respond to feedback, verbally, and non-verbally. If you tend to be closed off and unwilling to listen, the team can feel uncomfortable about coming to you for help.
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Training and Development: Offer relevant training programs, workshops, or mentoring to address skill gaps. Resources and Tools: Ensure that team members have the necessary resources and tools to perform their tasks effectively. Feedback and Guidance: Provide continuous feedback and guidance to help team members stay on track and improve.
Once you've implemented strategies to address performance gaps, it's essential to monitor progress. Regular check-ins and progress reviews can help you determine if your interventions are effective or if further adjustments are needed. Celebrate improvements and successes to motivate your team members and reinforce positive changes. Continuous monitoring also helps you stay proactive in managing performance across your program.
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Regular Check-Ins: Schedule regular check-ins to review progress, discuss challenges, and adjust plans as needed. Performance Reviews: Conduct periodic performance reviews to assess improvements and recalibrate goals if necessary. Data-Driven Insights: Utilize data and analytics to track progress and make informed decisions about further actions.
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Monitoring progress aids and abets in spotting and resolving performance gaps. This involves tracking individual performance against set objectives, identifying discrepancies, and taking corrective actions to ensure consistent progress towards goals.
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Regular check ins are a great way to get an update on the progress, work through things they’re struggling with, and provide more training or resources as needed on certain topics. Stay focused and listen intently during your checkins. Be sure to highlight the wins and provide praise/appreciation when they occur too.
Lastly, be prepared to adjust your strategies as necessary. If performance gaps persist despite your initial efforts, consider alternative approaches or additional support mechanisms. Flexibility in your management style allows you to respond to the evolving needs of your team and the dynamic nature of program management. Remember that resolving performance gaps is an ongoing process that benefits from adaptability and a commitment to continuous improvement.
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Flexibility: Be prepared to adjust strategies based on the team member’s progress and feedback. Continuous Improvement: Encourage a culture of continuous improvement where team members are motivated to learn and grow.
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Positive Reinforcement: Recognize and reward improvements to motivate and encourage continued progress. Team Collaboration: Foster a collaborative environment where team members can support each other in overcoming performance challenges. Mental and Emotional Well-being: Pay attention to the mental and emotional well-being of team members, offering support where needed to ensure they can perform at their best.
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