- Have a positive attitude. …
- Take responsibility. …
- Request extra time. …
- Ask for help. …
- Double your effort. …
- Check in regularly. …
- Talk with your team. …
- Set your own goals.
Being placed on a Performance Improvement Plan (PIP) can feel like a punch in the gut, especially if it happens suddenly and you don’t know why. However, in most cases, it’s not a surprise. Usually, it happens after a worker has been having difficulties in their position or with another problem at work.
Performance Improvement Plans (PIP)? How to Respond
Why are performance improvement plans important?
It’s crucial for a business to develop a performance improvement plan because it can specify exactly how an employee can improve their work and provide a list of actions they can take to address those needs and advance within the organization. This can make it clear to a worker what they need to do to improve themselves and advance more quickly.
Plans for performance improvement can be crucial for businesses and organizations to help their staff members grow rather than having to hire and train a brand-new employee. The business can save time, money, and resources by making an effort to promote someone who is already employed.
What is a performance improvement plan?
A performance improvement plan (PIP) is a list of goals made by an employer to assist a worker in advancing in their position and more effectively carrying out their duties. The PIP will frequently specify what an employee must do to advance their skills and specify the date by which the employee will be reevaluated to determine how they have changed.
How to respond to a performance improvement plan
Eight actions that you can take to respond to a performance improvement plan and carry out its demands are listed below:
1. Have a positive attitude
A positive outlook while working on your performance improvement plan can make it easier for you to achieve your goals and develop productive work habits. It can demonstrate to your employer that you are taking their advice seriously and approaching it with determination if you begin your PIP with the intention of improving your abilities and attitude toward your daily responsibilities.
2. Take responsibility
Consider carefully listening to your manager or boss’s coaching and suggestions if they present you with a performance improvement plan. You should also accept responsibility for any errors in your work that may have contributed to this situation. This can demonstrate to the employer that you’re committed to growing as a worker and that you want to stay on staff.
For instance, if a potential employer brings up that you have trouble meeting deadlines, you can reply, “I am very sorry about missing some deadlines. I want to get better at managing my time so I can do my job at this company more effectively. “.
3. Request extra time
Sometimes an employer will give your PIP a deadline. Consider asking for more time if necessary to accomplish the goals and objectives your manager or boss has established. By giving you more time to make improvements, requesting a deadline extension can assist you in completing your performance improvement plan.
For instance, if an employer says they will review your performance again in three weeks, inquire as to whether four or five weeks might be possible for you to complete their requirements and enhance your working abilities.
4. Ask for help
Asking for assistance from your manager can help you understand how to carry out your duties and demonstrate to them your desire to develop your skills. Making your inquiries specific and using them to further enquire how to meet or exceed your manager’s expectations can be helpful.
For instance, if your manager claims that the quality of your work isn’t what they’re looking for, think about asking them to elaborate on the kind of work they hope to see and how you can live up to those expectations.
5. Double your effort
By increasing your productivity, you can demonstrate to your manager that you are working to achieve the PIP’s objectives. This can involve completing more deliverables for your manager, putting in more time at your workplace, and arriving at work on time and prepared to work.
Knowing your limits and only exerting more effort until you feel exhausted, however, can be helpful. This will enable you to keep up the effort even after your performance improvement plan is complete.
6. Check in regularly
Regularly checking in with your manager or boss about your PIP progress can demonstrate to your employer your commitment to improvement and let you know if the steps you’re taking to achieve your goals are effective. To determine whether you are meeting your manager’s expectations or if you need to change how you approach the PIP objectives, think about speaking with them frequently, perhaps once or twice a week.
7. Talk with your team
Your coworkers and colleagues can serve as excellent role models for how to develop your work habits and abilities. You can show them and your employer that you’re willing to work hard and that you’re responding well to your performance improvement plan by asking them for advice and talking with them about how they approach their role responsibilities.
For instance, if your manager criticizes the quality or detail of your sales reports, think about speaking with another sales associate to see if they would be willing to share any suggestions or techniques for how to make them better.
8. Set your own goals
Setting personal objectives that you can work toward in addition to the goals of your performance improvement plan can be beneficial. These objectives might add a new level or challenge to the PIPs objectives, or they might be personal to you and your desired development. You might be able to more effectively accomplish your employer’s goal by attempting to complete a goal or objective that is more challenging than the one your manager or boss assigned.
Consider setting a goal for yourself of making 15 or 20 sales, for instance, if your boss tells you that you need to make 12 more sales to fulfill the requirements of your performance improvement plan. This will motivate you to work harder and perhaps achieve your manager’s objective while demonstrating to them your willingness to advance in your position at the company.
FAQ
Should I accept performance improvement plan?
A PIP doesn’t mean you’re going to be fired. In fact, the fact that the business wants to assist you in improving things is a positive sign. They want to help you advance in your position rather than immediately dismissing you. Therefore, try to view it more positively and take a few deep breaths.
Can you dispute a performance improvement plan?
Can You Challenge a Performance Improvement Plan? If it’s obvious that your employer is using the PIP as a prelude to your inevitable termination, you may be encouraged to challenge the PIP.
How do I acknowledge PIP?
Declare your agreement with the PIP’s conclusions and request any clarifications. When you’re prepared to meet with your boss to discuss the PIP, avoid being combative or sorry. Be calm, serious, direct, and businesslike. Make it clear to them that you accept the PIP and desire to continue after that.
What do you say in a PIP meeting?
- Identify the performance/behavior that needs improving.
- Provide specific examples for reasoning.
- Outline expected standard.
- Identify training and support.
- Schedule check-ins and review points.
- Sign and acknowledge.
