IDENTIFY YOUR BEST EMPLOYEES.
How to run a 9-box talent calibration.
(1) Use a Performance x Potential grid to evaluate the quality and depth of your talent
(2) Run a formal talent calibration to answer questions and ensure ratings are as fair and objective as possible.
(3) Require your managers to give their team members feedback on how they’re doing, what they can improve, and the obstacles in their way.
We use Talent Reviews to evaluate the quality and depth of the talent inside of our portfolio. To do this, we rate each employee using two measures - Performance and Potential.
Watch the below video for an overview on our Talent Review process.
This is our Manager handbook for how to run a successful Talent Review process. It includes detail on ratings, how to incorporate cultural fit/ core values, and how to avoid bias during the process.
Click here to download the 9Box Manager Handbook.
Additional Tools and Templates
Communication Guides: These templates help you structure your thoughts when providing feedback after the 9Box
HiPo Guides: This templates can help you work with your HiPo on structuring stretch goals
As part of our continuing People Operations series, ParkerGale Principals Jimmy and Paul dive into the 9box, a talent management framework commonly used to assess an organization’s breadth and depth of talent. Jimmy and Paul cover why this matters, how to effectively review an organization’s entire talent base, and why it pays for investors to be involved in the process.
What to expect during the Talent Review process.
Before the Review
Rate each of your employees from 1-3 along “Performance” and “Potential” in the 9box spreadsheet
Training materials on how to use the ratings scales will be shared
(If applicable) Suggest a tentative compensation increase for each employee
Be prepared to explain the reasoning for your ratings, and what development actions are required for each high/low performer
During the Review
The People Ops leader will help you display the ratings spreadsheet / summary page and discuss each person on your team
Members of your leadership team (including the CEO) and ParkerGale will be in the room to help each manager arrive at the fairest rating possible for each person and talk about “what’s needed next” on the team
The People Ops team will also help capture and track the development activities needed for each person (especially for high-performers)
After the Review
Each manager will be expected to hold a 1:1 meeting with each member of their team after the 9-box review to share feedback on:
What they’re doing well
What they can work on
What obstacles you (as the manager) can remove for them
The People Ops team will also help managers stay on top of any development actions needed for higher/lower performers
The People Ops team will also analyze the data from the 9box exercise to further assess the quality and depth of talent as well as how existing People processes are working