We created Develop.Me to support our culture of development and performance—we wanted performance reviews to be enjoyable, efficient, and productive experiences that support our development culture. When we decided to share Develop.Me for free, we recognized that every church is different and has different ways of gauging performance and approaching goal-setting.
As you begin to think about how your organization will implement Develop.Me, here are some questions to think through.
- What does your review process look like right now?
As you consider introducing a new tool into your performance management process, reflect on what’s currently working well and what isn’t. Dig in to every facet of your system and welcome feedback. If a certain part is working like a well-oiled machine, you can use Develop.Me to enhance it further. If you find gaps in the process, utilize Develop.Me to help you fill in those missing parts. Evaluate how developmental tools are already being used in your team. Education, training, book discussions, conferences, peer-to-peer learning, and mentoring are just a few of the ways to develop your staff.
- What is important to you in the process of performance evaluation?
Every organization is different, so the way you use Develop.Me might look different from the way another group else uses it. Try to pick out your major focus. It might be one-on-one feedback between a leader and team member. Goal-setting might be your focal point. Whatever it is, be sure to communicate what that value is to your entire team and design your performance evaluation process to support that value.
- What is your team's definition of "successful performance?"
Core values and behavior standards are largely ineffectual if they are not communicated clearly to your team. Defining a vision for performance is key. Here at Life.Church, we use a rating system that is clearly communicated to the team.
What we've learned:
Before implementing a new system, lay the groundwork. Develop.Me doesn't create a culture of development, but it supports what you already have. Take stock of where you are and where you want to be. It’s vital to have a vision for your team development in place. Once you have an idea of what you hope to accomplish with Develop.Me, read the post "How to Roll Out Develop.Me" to learn how to start using it in your church.