Article

Best practice for appraisal of partners

11 October 2024

Four people conducting an appraisal

While traditional employee appraisals may not be suitable for partners engaged in partnership agreements, conducting regular performance evaluations remains essential for maintaining accountability and ensuring the long-term success of the business.

Unlike individuals on standard employment contracts, partners hold ownership stakes and have shares in the decision-making responsibilities of a business. This therefore requires a tailored appraisal process focusing on their unique contributions to the business’ strategic direction.

Although it is important to tailor the appraisal process to the unique position of a partner to ensure this reflects their ownership stake and leadership role, the fundamental principles of the appraisal process should remain the same, regardless of position. Appraisals and performance reviews are used to set clear expectations, provide constructive feedback, measure performance against agreed criteria and create two-way open communication and these foundations will not differ whether this is for employees or partners.

A partner’s role is multi-faceted; they need to be capable of delivering high-quality professional and profitable work but must also be able to develop new and existing clients, manage and supervise staff, manage their own portfolio and maintain a level of professional and technical expertise.

Therefore, there is a significant importance on being able to monitor and enhance success via the means of regular performance evaluation.

Clearly define partner roles and responsibilities

The foundation of any successful appraisal process lies in having clearly defined roles, responsibilities, and expectations. These should be laid out in the partnership agreement and should be used to structure robust KPI’s which align with objectives and strategy of the partnership. These KPIs should be regularly revisited as part of the review process.

Regular check-ins

Scheduling regular meetings to discuss progress, challenges, and insights are essential in maintaining the success of a partnership. The check-ins foster transparency and allow for adjustments to be made when setting and measuring objectives.

Use a structured framework

Given the fundamental principles of the appraisal process should remain the same, regardless of position, creating a standardised framework for appraisals will ensure consistent direction. The framework should cover various aspects, such as performance, collaboration, communication, and adherence and alignment to company values and objectives. This provides consistency and fairness in evaluations. Based on the appraisal feedback, a development plan can be created collaboratively to outline specific goals, resources needed, and timelines. This proactive approach helps partners work on identified areas and strengthens the partnership.

Incorporate 360-degree feedback

If appropriate, consider including feedback from different stakeholders – including team members, clients, and even external partners. This holistic approach provides a well-rounded view of a partner’s performance and contributions.

Encourage self-assessment

Promote self-assessment to evaluate own performance before appraisal. Self-assessment encourages accountability and can reveal insights that may not surface in traditional evaluations.

Document everything

Maintain thorough documentation of appraisals, feedback, and development plans. This not only tracks progress over time but also serves as a reference point for future discussions and evaluations.

Conclusion

Appraisals are a vital process that, when done thoughtfully, can enhance collaboration and drive shared success of any business. By establishing clear objectives, maintaining open communication, and focusing on continuous development for partners, this can cultivate productive and rewarding partnerships. Implementing these best practices not only benefits individual partners but also strengthens the overall business relationship.

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