Performance Management: Beyond Probationary Periods - Online workshop

Performance issues rarely fix themselves. When standards slip and the informal chats aren’t landing, managers often feel stuck: unsure what to say, what to record, and when to escalate. This practical workshop gives managers a clear, fair framework for tackling under-performance early, improving outcomes where possible, and reducing the risk of stress, conflict and formal disputes.We focus on what managers actually need in real workplaces: setting expectations, having structured performance conversations, documenting properly, and knowing when (and how) to move into a formal capability process.

What the workshop will enable delegates to do

• Recognise performance issues early and address them before they become entrenched
• Set clear expectations and standards (and reset them when they’ve drifted)
• Hold structured performance conversations that are specific, fair and productive
• Give feedback confidently and handle pushback, defensiveness or “yes, but…” responses
• Create practical improvement plans (actions, timescales, support and checkpoints)
• Keep performance notes and records that are consistent and defensible
• Decide when informal management is no longer enough and a formal process is needed
• Understand the basics of a fair capability process and how to reduce legal risk

What we’ll cover

• Why performance drifts (and why repeated informal chats often fail)
• Setting standards: role expectations, measurable objectives, behaviours and values
• The manager conversation framework: evidence, examples, impact, expectations, next steps
• Support vs accountability: reasonable support, training, workload, wellbeing and adjustments
• Performance improvement plans: what good looks like, review meetings and tracking progress
• Documentation: what to record, how to word it, and keeping it proportionate
• When to escalate: triggers for formal capability, and how to transition cleanly
• Common pitfalls (and how to avoid them): inconsistency, delay, vagueness, and “moving the goalposts”

Who it’s for / format

Ideal for SME owners, managers and team leaders who manage performance beyond probation and need a practical step-by-step approach (no HR or legal background required). Live online, interactive half-day workshop. Certificates of attendance provided.