9 box Talent Calibration
We recently announced a new feature within our popular 9 box software: calibration review. The calibration review further champions the importance of conversation amongst colleagues and allows for those conversations to happen before finalizing the 9 box placements. Calibration review is a process that aims to make placements consistent across managers, departments, and job levels, which will lead to an effective 9 box talent review and leadership succession planning process.
What is the 9 Box Application?
A 9 box grid is a leadership succession planning tool that is used to evaluate and plot a company’s talent pool based on two factors, which most commonly are performance and potential. Typically, the horizontal axis is ‘performance’ which is often measured by performance reviews. The vertical axis is ‘potential’ which refers to an individuals’ potential to grow one or more levels in a managerial or professional capacity.
Our recommendation is to measure both performance objectives and core values (workplace behaviors) in performance reviews (see how leading organizations are using the 9 box grid alongside the Performance-Values Matrix), thereby making the x-axis of the 9 box serve as the Total Performance Score, or the combined score of performance and values. This leaves the y-axis, or the ‘potential’ axis to be determined based on discussions amongst a group of leaders who can more subjectively assess and decide on the individual’s potential.
Why Does Leadership Succession Planning and a 9 Box Talent Review Matter?
Succession planning is the process of identifying and coaching potential future leaders. It has an important role to play in the overall long-term success of a company. Often, it can be an area of strategic planning that gets overlooked and placed on the back burner.
We know that well-executed succession planning and 9 box talent review helps organizations make better decisions. When done well, it is a powerful tool to help assess if team members are in the right seats and help develop high potential employees for growth within the organization. Using visual tools like the 9-Box grid is a great way to assist in recognizing team members who show both great performance and potential.
The Importance of the 9 Box Calibration Review
The 9 box application was designed with drag and drop capabilities that allow leaders to place an employee in the appropriate box (potential gem, star, etc.) and include notes as to why they chose that placement. Calibration means that these placements can be made prior to conversations with fellow leaders, and then leaders can update the placements if necessary after the conversations occur. The idea behind calibration is that 9 box placement is subjective. Therefore intentional leadership discussions are necessary to avoid subjectivity and potential bias, while ensuring the accuracy of placements.
Why Is 9 Box Not Automated?
Potential cannot be easily quantified. It is far too nuanced and nebulous. One leader’s experience may be vastly different from another’s with the same employee purely based on personality or circumstance. Automating the process entirely creates a large margin for error by not accounting for bias and ultimately removing the most critical component to effective leadership succession planning: healthy conversations. There is no amount of automation that can make a solid case for removing the human component from this process.
WorkDove’s 9 box application makes leadership succession planning simple, while calibration makes it fair and informed.
