What is the first step in the performance evaluation process for staff?

Setting clear performance expectations is the foundational step in the performance evaluation process for staff. This stage is crucial because it establishes a mutual understanding between management and employees regarding the standards and benchmarks that will be used to assess performance. When expectations are clearly defined, employees know what is required of them and can focus their efforts on achieving specific goals and outcomes.

Furthermore, having clear performance expectations helps to create a transparent and accountable work environment, as it allows employees to measure their progress against defined criteria. This step also ensures that subsequent phases of performance evaluations—such as providing ongoing feedback, conducting peer reviews, and offering training workshops—are aligned with the established expectations, ultimately leading to a more effective and constructive evaluation process.