Assessing Employee Skills Key Terms

Discover key terms that help you perform the most accurate employee skills assessments
By Michele Vrouvas HR professionals today realize that, to be effective assessors of employee skills, they've got to approach the subject from as many angles as possible. This includes learning what it means to use an employee's past behavior as an indication of future performance. It also refers to assessment tools HR staff depend on as they recruit the most worthwhile candidates to assume leadership positions in a company. Get a heads-up on the techniques for assessing employee skills when you learn the following common terms.
 

Assessment

When used in the context of the work force, assessment refers to any objective measures of an individual's suitability and skills HR staff make as they hire and manage employees.
Try: Workforce Essentials puts assessment into the HR context by explaining why businesses depend so heavily on employee skills assessment tools.

Expectancy theory

Expectancy theory refers to a psychological theory of human behavior that HR professionals use in their assessment of employee skills and motivation.
Try: Read Global BX to find out how HR managers depend on Expectancy Theory to consider what makes workers change their behavior. You’ll also find out how you can use this theory to create incentives that can lead workers to modify adverse behavior, thus changing their skills.

Personality assessment

Personality assessments come into play in the human resources field when you are considering how an individual is likely to react to changes in the work environment.
Try: At Saterfiel & Associates, learn why HR professionals depend on personality assessments when they consider promoting someone. Also, read how personality assessments are used to assess employee skills and behavior in general.

Performance assessment

Performance assessment goes beyond predictions of employee behavior in hypothetical situations. These assessments are standard HR tools for judging an employee's performance in specified duties.
Try: Read Action Management Associates for advice on how to conduct performance assessments. You'll also learn how these assessments can be used to identify specific employee development needs that can lead to greater productivity.

Leadership skills assessment

Most companies depend on competent leadership to maintain high levels of productivity and customer satisfaction. Use leadership skills assessment to help you identify current employees and potential hires who possess the characteristics necessary to become effective leaders.
Try: See Wally Hauck for a discussion of the process of developing leadership and the qualities of effective leaders.

Team effectiveness assessment

Team effectiveness assessment refers to an employee's ability to work well in a team.
Try: Mind Tools analyzes the significance of team effectiveness assessment when it comes to assessing employee skills. You'll learn about common obstacles to effective teamwork and tools you can use to overcome these problems.