5 Tips For Identifying Your Employee’s Strengths and Weaknesses

Our strengths and weaknesses can play a large role in determining who we are and what career choices we make. Managers who know the strengths and weaknesses of their employees can make better decisions can help their employees to succeed in their career, can provide the correct training and development opportunities, and can give their employees a more effective performance review.

However, many professionals find it difficult to work out where their employees’ strengths and weaknesses lie. If you want your business to be successful, then uncovering your employees’ strengths and weaknesses is a brilliant idea. Not only can this help increase employee well-being and motivation, but it can also increase productivity. Here are some of our top tips to help you:

1. Produce a Skills Matrix

One thing that you can use to your advantage is a skills matrix, but what is a skills matrix? A skills matrix can help employers keep track of their employee’s qualifications, skills, and core competencies. There are a number of benefits to using a skills matrix including:

They can be used to identify gaps in training;
They allow you to monitor employee progress;
They allow you to see who can do what in the company;
They allow you to plan for the future of your business;
A well-maintained skilled matrix is useful during an audit, as all of the information you need is available at the click of a button; and
They can save you time and money.

Skills matrices can be created in a spreadsheet like MS Excel. However, this is often a tricky and daunting task. Another option is to use automated skills management software. AG5’s skills management software is a brilliant option for anyone looking to create a skills matrix. Not only is it easy to use, but it can also save you a lot of time and effort. AG5’s automated skills management software allows you to see up to date information about your employees, their skills, and their qualifications.

2. Pay Attention

Many employers struggle to spot the strengths and weaknesses of their employees. We often rely on our employees to tell us what they are good (or not so good) at. If this is the case in your business, then it might be a good idea to spend some time working alongside your employees. Watching them work will allow you to spot what they can do well and what they might need to improve. You can then provide the correct training and development to help them progress in their career.

3. Their Intranet Activity

We can often find out a lot of information about our employees by looking at their intranet activity. Look at the type of content they post to see if it tells you anything about their interests. You should also look to see if they’re asking for help and advice on a regular basis. If they are, this could mean that they need extra training.

4. Social Media Platforms

Employers can often learn a lot about their employees by looking at their social media accounts. You will be able to find out a little bit about their history, their views, their family, and their strengths and weaknesses.

5. Employee Appraisal

One of the best ways to learn about your employees is to talk to them. It’s a good idea to conduct an employee appraisal on a regular basis. Talk to them about where they think their strengths and weaknesses lie and see if you agree. Showing your employees that you’re interested in them and that you want to help them to succeed will help them to speak openly about the things they want to work on.

Many employers find it difficult to identify their employees’ skills and weaknesses. But, doing so can play a huge role in how successful your business is. Knowing your employees’ strengths and weaknesses allows you to select the right person for the task, know what training to provide, and allows you to plan for the future. Follow some of the top tips above, and you’ll be well on your way to knowing everything you need to know about your employees.

HR Future Staff Writer, UK.