The logistics industry is fast-paced, driven by fluctuating global supply chains and unpredictable customer demand. In this world of constant change, yearly performance reviews are not fit for purpose. When agility is the order of the day across the business, it is counter-productive for employee development programmes to be slow-moving, hinged on annual cycles. Goals set at the start of the year fast become out of date.
Continuous performance management is a far better fit for the logistics industry than relying solely on long-term objectives and yearly reviews. It reimagines employee performance assessment and development as an ongoing process that involves regular check-ins between managers and employees, real-time feedback, and dynamic goal-setting.
In this blog post, we'll explore four key ways continuous performance management can enhance the personal growth and satisfaction of your logistics team.
- Keep goals up to date with changing demands and industry trends
In the logistics industry, goals can change rapidly in accordance with market conditions, technological advancements, new regulations and customer expectations. Continuous performance management allows for agile goal-setting and adjustments, ensuring that your team remains focused on relevant and achievable targets.
Frequent check-ins between managers and employees provide an opportunity to reassess priorities and align individual goals with overarching objectives. Adaptability of individual targets to reflect changing business goals – for example a pivot to next-day delivery in line with customer demand, or a drive to adopt new processes to accommodate changing border legislation – fosters a sense of purpose and direction among employees, motivating them to perform at their best. A software solution that allows for the input of organisational objectives and the alignment of personal goals is crucial to the employee and the organisation.
- Drive employees’ progression journey with regular, consistent assessments
Career progression is a high priority for employees in all industries, with a third of the workers planning to leave their jobs motivated to do so by better career progression and upskilling opportunities elsewhere. The logistics industry is no different, with lack of career progression a motivator for drivers quitting, especially those in their 40s. Road freight businesses are losing out on the valuable talent of their older workers, which could be enlisted to train and motivate the next generation. When confined to a yearly 1:1 structure, it is easy for an employee’s future at the company – or even in the industry – to be unclear, with more mundane communication taking precedence day-to-day.
Continuous performance management can help combat this, with timely and consistent performance snapshots. Performance snapshots are brief, periodic assessments that provide a real-time overview of an employee's performance, created using continuous performance management software like Performance & Talent. These snapshots can assess and identify team members who are ready and able to progress from their current positions, through structured and focused exploratory questions. When each regular performance snapshot is a potential passport to a new role, it is easier for employees to stay motivated and striving to be the best they can be. Formalised performance snapshots, sticking to a consistent format, keep employees connected to the ‘why’ behind their tasks, by regularly recontextualising their work as part of a personal progression and development journey – in a way that ad hoc “well-dones” just will not achieve.
- Make sure that good performance is not forgotten
When appraisals only take place once a year, exceptional performances can get lost in the day-to-day activity of operating a busy logistics business. Avoid your employees feeling undervalued for their hard work – and as a result discouraged to go the extra mile – by encouraging team members to feedback on each other’s performance in real-time. This is made easier by a performance management software solution where feedback can be given in an intuitive and easy-to-use user experience, to any other employee in the company.
The feedback tool in Performance & Talent allows every member of staff to give feedback to all other members of the organisation. This means employees can give feedback to managers and team leaders, and can receive feedback from a range of co-workers. This is a great way for people to get a timely shout out for a job well done, as it happens, or gain some insight on what they could improve on moving forward. These will also be recorded and saved in the system, feeding into the performance snapshots discussed above – and taking each employee further on their development journey.
- Acknowledge seasonal success
Logistics operations often experience seasonal fluctuations, with peak periods requiring exceptional effort from employees. Acknowledging and celebrating seasonal success is a vital aspect of continuous performance management that reinforces positive behaviours and motivates employees to maintain high standards.
Recognition can come in various forms, such as bonuses, public accolades, or opportunities for career advancement. By celebrating achievements during busy seasons, you show employees that their hard work is valued and appreciated.
Furthermore, acknowledging seasonal success provides an opportunity to reflect on what worked well and what could be improved. This reflection helps refine strategies for future peak periods, ensuring that the team is better prepared to handle increased workloads. The regular check-ins and ongoing feedback of continuous performance management sets up your team to acknowledge employee performance after a busy Christmas period, for example, or a challenging summer season. Stay connected with your employees through the peaks and troughs of a logistics year, with a solution that facilitates ongoing meaningful conversations.
Continuous performance management offers a holistic approach to nurturing and enhancing the capabilities of your logistics employees. By keeping goals up-to-date, providing accurate and consistent feedback, utilising performance snapshots, and acknowledging seasonal success, you can create a dynamic and supportive work environment that drives excellence.
At OneAdvanced, we can help empower your team to achieve their full potential with our Performance & Talent solution. If you're interested in learning more about how continuous performance management can benefit your logistics operations, get in touch with one of our experts today.