Mastering the Performance Management Process for Media Companies

Quick look: Employees’ hard work always deserves recognition. Through a comprehensive performance management process, media company leaders can gain complete insight into their team’s accomplishments and chances for growth. Keep reading to see how when executed well, performance management strategies help support and reward top talent.

In the fast-paced world of media, where trends shift overnight and audiences demand real-time engagement, managing employee performance is critical to staying ahead of the curve. Though businesses operate uniquely, each performance management strategy relies on a few common aspects. Whether you’re a content powerhouse or an established broadcaster, this blog explores proven tactics to enhance the performance management process for media companies.

Set clear and realistic objectives

The talents and experiences of employees are the driving forces behind media companies winning projects and opportunities. That’s why performance management starts with determining core objectives for each worker.

When creating performance objectives, it’s wise to envision the company’s overall business goals. From there, decide which activity outcomes best suit the business’ needs and relate to the assigned employee’s skill set. Also, give objective deadlines within sensible timeframes based on how long associated tasks take to complete.

Establish a check-in routine

Objectives evolve each time a related task starts or ends. Scheduling regular check-ins prevents these initiatives from being overshadowed by other work. One-on-one meetings are typically the preferred check-in format, encouraging collaborative discussion while maintaining transparency on an objective’s progress and goal alignment. For each meeting, have the participants write down any questions or comments regarding the project at hand. Also, keep notes to ensure any finer points discussed are available for future reference if necessary.

Encourage employee feedback

Productive feedback is another central aspect of performance management. To achieve it, you must enable employees’ voices to be as present and valued as their team leaders’. Ensure workers get to share any comments or concerns with their managers.

By encouraging employee feedback, media industry companies strengthen relationships between employees and management. This feedback also helps elevate workplace engagement and productivity, with employees being 4.6 times more likely to perform their best when they feel their voice is heard.

Make performance management easier with the right tools

Tracking an employee’s workplace performance requires gathering information from various sources over time—things like one-on-one notes, peer feedback, check-in ratings, and progress on objectives. Without a reliable system in place, it can feel overwhelming to organize and revisit these details when you need them most.

A platform like 15Five lets you store notes, feedback, and performance ratings all in one place—making it easier to prepare fair evaluations and simplify the overall performance management process.

Develop an employee recognition program

Outstanding performances are always worth celebrating. Employee recognition programs allow management to spotlight departments, teams, and individuals whose work contributed to significant wins. These programs provide an array of benefits for media businesses. According to 89% of HR professionals, recognition programs positively impact the overall employee experience. They also help build company morale, improve organizational culture, and strengthen team retention.

Use information gathered during performance management to pinpoint standout contributors and successes. Aside from company shoutouts, consider tangible rewards your company can offer recognition winners, such as certificates, specialty swag, gift cards, or trophies.

Streamline performance management with ExtensisHR

An efficient performance management process enables media companies to nurture workforce talents, recognize internal challenges, and build better employee experiences. Still, business leaders must balance other in-house operations while keeping this procedure organized. Luckily, a professional employer organization (PEO) like ExtensisHR has the experience and resources you need to succeed.

Our team helps customize a performance management strategy that combines industry best practices with your unique company goals. Through a partnership with 15Five, businesses have affordable access to an intuitive and user-friendly platform that monitors objectives, sets up check-ins, and collects feedback from managers and their direct reports.

We also provide comprehensive HR services that offload administrative burdens from your employees. Each tailored PEO solution provides a wide range of support, including:

• Complimentary recruitment services that help you attract and onboard top talent
• Fortune 500-level employee benefits to boost workforce health and wellness
• Risk and compliance expertise across federal and industry-based employment regulations
• A dedicated account support team, including an HR Manager, Implementation Manager, and Payroll Manager
• Customer-first service from our Employee Solution Center, including 10-second response times to initial inquiries and questions

With every objective comes the opportunity to grow and refine your business. Let ExtensisHR turn your HR challenges into workforce wins.

Ready to take your performance management process to the next level? Contact us today to learn how we can support your media company.