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What We Do
Performance should be more than an annual form that everyone dreads. When expectations are unclear and feedback is inconsistent, people guess at what matters, managers avoid hard conversations, and growth stalls.
We help you design practical performance and development routines that fit how your business really works. The goal: clear expectations, regular check-ins, and simple tools that help people grow and leaders make better decisions.
Clear Expectations
Define what “good” looks like for roles, teams, and leaders.
Simple Performance Rhythms
Build check-ins and reviews that actually happen on time.
Real Feedback and Coaching
Support managers to give honest, useful feedback all year.
Growth and Development Plans
Create realistic development paths that align with your business.
What we offer
You can work with The Happy People Advisory on a project basis, as part of a broader HR engagement, or through an ongoing retainer.
Here are some of the ways we support performance and development.
Performance Framework & Expectations
We help you define what “good” looks like across roles and levels so people know what they are accountable for and how they will be evaluated.
Service features
- Clear performance dimensions and definitions (e.g., results, behaviors, values)
- Role and level expectations that are easy to explain
- Alignment with company goals and strategy
- Input from leaders to ensure buy-in and ownership
- Simple tools to communicate expectations to employees
Investment:
Investment depends on the number of roles and levels included. This can be a standalone project or the foundation for broader performance work.
Ready to bring clarity to performance expectations?
Tell us where expectations feel fuzzy or inconsistent, and we’ll recommend where to start.
Check-In and Review Process Design
We design a practical cadence for check-ins and reviews so performance conversations actually happen—and don’t just live in a form once a year.
Service features
- Recommended cadence for 1:1s, mid-year, and annual reviews
- Simple templates for managers and employees to prepare
- Guidance on ratings (if you use them) and calibration
- Clear timelines and responsibilities for HR and leaders
- Communication plan so everyone knows what to expect
Investment:
Investment varies based on your current tools and complexity. Often paired with Performance Framework & Expectations.
Need performance reviews that actually happen?
If reviews are late, rushed, or avoided, share your current process and we’ll help you redesign it.
Goal Setting & Alignment
We help you put a simple goal-setting approach in place so individual goals connect to team and company priorities.
Service features
- Goal-setting guidelines that fit your business rhythm
- Templates for individual, team, and departmental goals
- Support for leaders to cascade priorities clearly
- Examples of measurable, realistic goals
- Optional training or workshops on effective goal setting
Investment:
Depends on scope and number of teams involved. Can be a focused project or part of a broader performance refresh.
Want goals that actually drive the right work?
If goals feel disconnected from real work, tell us what's happening and we'll suggest a better approach.
Manager Coaching on Feedback & Difficult Conversations
We equip managers to give timely feedback, address issues early, and have honest performance conversations without burning relationships.
Service features
- Practical frameworks for giving clear, specific feedback
- Conversation guides for tough performance discussions
- Role-play or scenario-based practice (as appropriate)
- Tips for documenting conversations and next steps
- Optional group sessions or 1:1 coaching for managers
Investment:
Based on the number of managers and depth of support. Can be delivered as a workshop series, coaching, or ongoing advisory.
Are managers avoiding hard conversations?
If managers are avoiding hard conversations, share what you're seeing and we'll recommend a support plan.
Development Planning & Career Paths
We help you create realistic development plans and simple career paths so employees see how they can grow with your organization.
Service features
- Development planning templates for employees and managers
- Clear criteria for growth within roles or into new ones
- Guidance on stretch assignments and learning opportunities
- Alignment with your performance and compensation approach
- Tools to track progress and follow-up conversations
Investment:
Varies based on the number of roles and levels. Often paired with Performance Framework & Expectations.
Getting questions about "what's next" with no clear answer?
If people are asking "What's next for me?" without clear answers, tell us about your current approach and we'll help you improve it.
Performance Issue Support & Improvement Plans
We support you in handling ongoing performance issues, including designing clear improvement plans that are fair, documented, and actionable.
Service features
- Guidance on documenting performance concerns
- Templates for performance improvement plans (PIPs)
- Coaching for managers on how to deliver the message
- Check-in structure to track progress and next steps
- Alignment with your HR, legal, and compliance requirements
Investment:
Can be per-case support or part of an ongoing advisory relationship. Scope depends on complexity and volume of cases.
Dealing with performance issues that never seem to resolve?
If performance issues are dragging on without resolution, share what you're dealing with and we'll outline options.
Performance & Development Audit
We review your current performance and development approach and highlight what's working, what's not, and where to focus first.
Service features
- Review of current forms, tools, and communications
- Feedback from leaders and employees (where appropriate)
- Identification of gaps, risks, and points of friction
- Prioritized recommendations by impact and effort
- Optional support to implement the highest-impact changes
Investment:
Based on scope and number of teams reviewed. Many clients start here to get a clear picture before making changes.
Not sure where to start with performance and development?
Not sure where to start? Tell us about your current approach, and we'll let you know if an audit is the right first step.
When you partner with us on a monthly retainer, you get ongoing access to core performance and development support without additional fees:
- Performance review and form updates
- Manager coaching on real-time performance issues
- Support with PIP design and documentation
- Guidance on promotions, demotions, and role changes
- Ongoing refinement of your performance processes
Want ongoing support instead of one-off fixes?
Explore our retainer packages.
Accelerate Package
- Everything in Foundation, plus:
- Proactive workforce and org design support
- Performance and development systems for managers and teams
- Support with complex employee relations and investigations
- Quarterly strategy sessions with leadership
Executive Package
- Everything in Accelerate, plus:
- Strategic HR advisory for executives and senior leaders
- Change management support for major initiatives and restructures
- Advanced analytics on people, risk, and turnover trends
- Ongoing support for multi‑state or multi‑site operations
