Supervisor Foundations · Lesson 9.3
PERFORMANCE NOTES SHOULD SUPPORT FOLLOW-UP
Performance notes are most useful when they help supervisors remember:
- what happened
- what feedback was given
- what improvement was expected
- what support was offered
- when follow-up should occur
Documentation should not exist only to collect negative information.
Positive improvement may also matter.
WORKPLACE EXAMPLES
EXAMPLE 1
Employee repeatedly submits incomplete reports.
Supervisor records: - dates - missing sections - coaching provided - agreed improvement - review date
EXAMPLE 2
Employee improves after coaching.
Supervisor notes the improvement rather than leaving the record frozen at the earlier problem.
EXAMPLE 3
Employee says a performance issue resulted from missing system access.
Supervisor records the explanation and verifies whether access was actually missing.
EXAMPLE 4
Supervisor gives feedback but records no next step.
Three weeks later, nobody remembers what was agreed.
Remember
Good documentation should help answer:
What happens next?
Workplace action
For important performance discussions, record: Issue. Expectation. Support. Next step. Follow-up date.
Quick Check
Which information is most useful in a performance note?