When done well, Personal Development Reviews (PDRs) can have a transformative impact for you, your team and the University.
Think back to a really good PDR meeting. As a reviewee, it was likely highly motivating when your results and strengths were acknowledged and appreciated, and it provided a helpful opportunity to discuss areas of improvement and future career options.
As a manager, the conversation will have provided a valuable space to give feedback, listen to perspectives and ideas, and understand career aspirations.
But a good PDR doesn’t just happen by luck; it requires preparation and forethought throughout the year. Here are some important tips to help you get the most out of the PDR experience:
Objectives
At the start of your annual PDR cycle, discuss objectives for the year ahead and make them SMART (Specific, Measurable, Achievable and Relevant, with a Timeframe). But don’t make this just an annual event: have regular meetings at least monthly to discuss progress and ensure objectives are still relevant; even better, include updates in regular one-to-one meetings during the year.
Preparation
As a reviewee, in advance of your PDR, think through what you want to get out of it; questions you may have, ideas you may want to raise and your development plans. You can share these with your manager in advance so that you get maximum value from the meeting. As a reviewer, think about the feedback you want to share during the discussion and the opportunities for the role in the coming year.
Relationship
Over the year, develop a positive professional relationship with your reviewer/reviewee to enable open and honest conversations between you, while respecting each other and your opinions.
Time
It is important that sufficient time is scheduled to allow both of you to cover all aspects of the PDR, especially career development opportunities. Take time to choose a location where you will not be interrupted and can both speak freely.
Colleagues expect and deserve regular feedback to understand what they are doing well and where they may need support, and to ensure their priorities are well aligned to their department’s goals. The PDR meeting is an opportunity for both the reviewee and the reviewer to reflect on their regular conversations over the year, recognise key achievements, identify challenges and areas of development, and reset priorities in support of their department’s and University mission. PDRs form a two-way, honest relationship which helps colleagues to feel valued and supported, with a strong sense of belonging in our community.
Markos Koumaditis, HR Director
New PDR Toolkit available for divisions and departments
The POD team has released a new PDR toolkit designed to enhance the experience for staff and managers as part of the Professional Services Together commitment to staff development. This new offer aims to save time, be process-light and encourage meaningful conversations. Resources are available on the POD SharePoint site and include:
- a shorter PDR Review Form, which is simpler to complete;
- a PDR Conversation Guide to help managers and colleagues structure conversations; and
- an Objective Setting Form.
Communities of Practice
As part of your PDR, you may want to discuss joining or setting up a Community of Practice (CoP): these enable you to connect with people across the University who do the same or similar work to you and are especially valuable in our environment where staff are spread across multiple buildings and different divisions/departments.
If you are new to your position, CoPs provide a forum for learning and developing your knowledge quickly and effectively. If you are more experienced in your role, it’s an opportunity to bounce ideas off colleagues with similar knowledge and experience levels, mentor more junior colleagues, and/or take on a leadership role in your CoP.
Visit the Connecting with people webpage to see if a CoP already exists in your area. Details of how to set one up can be found in the POD Community of Practice toolkit. For more information, visit the Communities of Practice webpage or watch this short video.
Masterclass to support managers in departments and divisions
The POD team will deliver a TCM (The Confident Manager) Masterclass – Exploring PDRs on 18 July (11am–noon) focused on the new resources available to support managers in departments and divisions wishing to take advantage of these. Booking is now open.
Register to attend this masterclass
Further support for managers
If you are a new manager/leader at the University, you may like to attend Managing at Oxford if you work in Professional Services, or Essentials of People Management in Research if you manage research staff. If you are an existing manager/leader, you may be interested in more focused training on either Enhancing Performance or Coaching Skills.
