Talent Management Best Practice 2 – Maintain Up-To-Date Job Descriptions

Today’s fast moving marketplace demands that companies be in an almost constant state of change in order to remain competitive. Subsequently, businesses reorganize, new roles are created, and existing positions eliminated on an almost continuous basis. Throughout these changes, it remains important to keep all organization members well aligned and focused on achieving the company’s mission goals. To do this requires ongoing retranslation of these goals to the day-to-day activities of the workforce. Often overlooked but important to maintaining alignment is the updating of job description documents.[wcm_restrict plans=”75983, 25542, 25653″]

High quality job descriptions provide a framework within which falls the performance responsibilities and authorities of the person holding the position. This framework defines the quantifiable measures against which the position holder’s performance will be evaluated. For this reason, job descriptions influence individual behaviors and if inconsistent with an organization’s changing direction could drive misaligned effort; thereby reducing productivity.

High Quality Job Descriptions

It’s not enough for a job description to generally characterize the work to be performed by the position holder. High quality job descriptions specifically list position functions and their associated performance standards in quantified terms. These functions and performance objectives then form the foundation of individual goals. If a job description cannot be readily translated into SMART (Specific, Measurable, Attainable, Relevant, Time-bound) goals, then they are too general and the job description should be rewritten.[/wcm_restrict][wcm_nonmember plans=”75983, 25542, 25653″]

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Additional Resource

The link between job descriptions, employee behaviors, and performance reviews is further highlighted by Garry Ridge in his book, Helping People Win at Work: A Business Philosophy Called “Don’t Mark My Paper, Help Me Get an A”. Listen as Garry shares his insights on improving workforce performance with us during his StrategyDriven Podcast interview.

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