9-box matrixes are used in talent management to identify and organize individuals according to their abilities and potential. It enables organizations to assess their personnel’s potential and development requirements by showcasing their current performance and potential.
Using a 9-box matrix, the vertical columns show the employee’s potential (the capacity to expand into a larger or different job in the future) while the horizontal rows reflect the employee’s current performance. Employees are grouped into talent levels based on the intersection of performance and potential in each box in the matrix.
To assist HR and line managers in debating the next steps for an employee, the 9-box matrix summarizes their performance in their present function. This may vary from a promotion, a plan for personal growth, a transfer, or even the employee’s termination.
The 9-box method of performance evaluation
- Poor potential and low performance of the best and brightest
This personnel are put in the bottom left corner of the grid because of their poor performance and potential.
There are several ways to describe workers who aren’t bringing their best to the table. This isn’t because they’re awful people; it’s because they don’t have the right talents, can’t perform the job they’re supposed to and don’t fit in with the rest of the team.
The best course of action would be to figure out what’s preventing them from performing at their best and then work with them to figure out how to overcome those obstacles. Your company may have to let them go if none of these measures are successful.
- Second, a stabilizer (potential but limited performance)
The second box down on the grid is where the stabilizer goes. Employees in this department are making an effort. To put it another way: They are eager to work, contribute to the company’s objectives regularly, perform at a medium level, and are unlikely to be dismissed.
Working with this group is ideal for providing them with frequent feedback and coaching to help them become more inventive, identify specific areas of growth, and establish a personal improvement plan, allowing them ample time to move into the high-performance category.
- Technocrat (low potential | high performance)
However, technocrats have a limited capacity and poor incentive for advancement when given instructions. For the sake of the organization, this group of workers is critical to its culture since they have a positive attitude about work, do their duties well, and are unlikely to quit.
It’s advisable to maintain technocrats in their present positions since their low potential score suggests that they aren’t ready for the development and responsibilities that would come with a promotion.
If you can, encourage them to think about how their job could change shortly and how they might adapt to meet such changes, if feasible.
- Unreliable performer with a medium to low potential.
Inconsistent players have a lot of potentials and are enthusiastic about their work, but they don’t perform well. It’s critical to discover what’s causing this. Are they unsure of what is expected of them at work? They may be struggling with personal concerns, attempting to stay up with organizational changes, or just weren’t adequately onboarded when they first started.
This set of individuals has abilities, but they need guidance, encouragement, and training from inside the company in order to reach their full potential. Make sure they know what is expected of them by adequately communicating expectations.
They should have adequate time in their personal development plan to go up a performance level, and it should involve setting stretch objectives for progress and having frequent, recorded check-ins with their manager.
- A solid professional (talent and performance) with modest potential.
These workers have the potential to be valuable assets to the company. Therefore it’s essential to invest in them. Professionals with a proven track record of success in their present employment are well-positioned for future advancement.
Your assistance will come in the form of new initiatives and tasks that will keep them excited about their jobs and training in people management that will help prepare them for the future.
Clear expectations and chances for learning may help solid professionals progress in their careers. Keep an eye on their progress and reward them appropriately, including suggesting them for advancement when appropriate.
- Sixth, the current star (potentiality/performance) (mid to high)
The company’s current stars are already surpassing and exceeding their goals and KPIs, putting them on a fast track to promotion.
You can keep this team motivated and focused on their goals by praising them for the excellent job they perform. Find out whether they’re ready to take on additional responsibility or if they need more time to grow. Allowing them to practise tactical and strategic thinking while they are still in their present positions is essential if you want to help them advance their careers inside the company.
They might also be given challenging projects that will help them better understand how the company operates.
- Rising stars (potential/performance) vs. established stars
Despite its promise, this group has a poor overall performance rating. They can take on a more significant role, but they are now hindered by issues that limit their effectiveness. In order to perform effectively, up-and-coming actors must be aware of the expectations placed on them by their character.
Please encourage them by providing good feedback from their superiors, clear communication of objectives and expectations, and more chances to acquire experience and develop self-confidence.
These were some meaningful information on the method of performance evolution known as 9 box grid.
