ALIGNing an organization: How we dumped year end performance reviews and replaced it with a conversation

We have all heard the hype that performance management is dead. Year-end reviews are despised by pretty much all employees at all levels. There are tons of articles begrudging this process but few with practical answers. It’s easy to say you want to get rid of year-end reviews but what do you replace it with?

During the last two years, Commerce Bank has dumped year-end reviews and kicked-off a much more flexible process focused on conversations between leaders and team members called ALIGN. This session is a description of the journey including the triumphs and challenges for those interested in embarking on a similar dynamic organizational change.*

In this session, you can expect to learn:

• How this change was sold to company executives
• The structure and process used to keep team members focused on useful and timely dialogue
• Tools and resources provided in a unique and engaging ways to bring the organization onboard
• Practical lessons learned during a year-long pilot and the first year of the program – along with a few pesky challenges still being navigated

Presented by: Ryan McCrea, VP, Manager of Talent Development at Commerce Bank & Emily Wall, Senior Talent Development Consultant at Commerce Bank

Ryan McCrea has focused his career on making an impact on organizations by helping them maximize and develop their talent. His areas of expertise include strategic talent management, talent and leadership development, mentoring, connecting others, consulting and coaching leaders at all levels, and telling a compelling story with data. At Commerce, Ryan leads the efforts around people growth including designing corporate-wide professional development resources and initiatives through a program called Commerce for U. Ryan also has responsibility for building leadership in the organization through three Leadership Development programs for high-potential team members. The newest program is focused on developing and growing people of color and includes an 18-month mentorship with the top 12 executives in the company. Ryan received a Bachelor’s Degree in Psychology at the University of Southern Indiana and a Master’s Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Southern Illinois University Edwardsville.

Emily Wall is a Senior Talent Development Consultant who works with Commerce Bank to help individuals and teams thrive at work. Emily started her work in leadership development at the Harvard Business School, where she held a variety of positions in both Executive Education and the MBA Program. She managed a team responsible for the largest and most innovative executive residential programs at the school, and helped establish the required first year MBA course, “FIELD” (Field Immersive Experiences in Leadership Development). In her role at Commerce, she continues this work by overseeing the Leadership Development Program for high-potential team members, designing corporate-wide professional development resources and initiatives, and partnering closely business line leaders to strengthen performance and culture. She holds a Master of Arts in Organizational & Corporate Communication from Emerson College, and a Bachelor of Arts in Communication from the University of Missouri- Columbia.

OD Global Competency Framework areas of expertise addressed in this program: Systems Change Expert & Credible Strategist

*Access Information for this Zoom session will be provided in emails after registration and before the event.