SkillSoft Giving Free Access to Three of its Most Popular Performance Management Courses

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Performance Management Courses Help Managers Overcome Fear of Performance Appraisals

NASHUA, N.H.--(BUSINESS WIRE)-- SkillSoft, a leading SaaS provider of e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses, today announced that it is offering professionals free access to three of its most popular performance management courses to help prepare for the annual performance appraisal season. The goal is to encourage better preparation for appraisals and also to help reduce the anxiety that is often associated with them.

SkillSoft’s performance management courses are available in convenient one-hour formats designed for the busy professional. Each 60-minute block delivers critical information that can be easily—and immediately—applied to their jobs. With 14 localized languages to draw from, the business skills library is a valuable resource for developing the global workforce and attaining the highest levels of organizational performance.

The series of courses is designed to help managers understand why performance management is important while preparing them to conduct actual appraisals. The courses provide specific steps to prepare for an effective review and teach specific skills for analyzing and addressing performance problems. Special attention is paid to giving feedback and the difficult conversations that can sometimes lead to emotional or awkward situations that produce stress for managers and employees.

“Performance reviews can cause anxiety for employees, and managers often feel even more anxious that the employees about giving them,” said John Ambrose, senior vice president, strategy, corporate development and emerging business, SkillSoft. “In addition, managers pressed for time will often put off preparing for or even performing reviews. Ultimately, employees and teams suffer from the lack of communication, and this can impact the general morale of the business unit or organization. When managers embrace this process as a critical part of an employee development program, everyone benefits.”

SkillSoft’s free course giveaway offer is open to professionals who want to improve their performance management skills. The three courses included in the giveaway are:

  • Performance Appraisal Essentials: Planning for Appraisals
    If managers and employees have different expectations of performance, problems arise. Both defining and providing ongoing feedback on job expectations helps to ensure everyone is on the same page. This course explains why performance appraisals are important, describes how to develop an Employee Performance Plan, and outlines ways to monitor ongoing employee performance.
  • Performance Appraisal Essentials: Conducting Traditional Appraisals
    How comfortable are your managers when it comes to conducting performance appraisals? Is there any way to increase that comfort level? This course describes ways to prepare for appraisal meetings, as well as how to carry out those meetings effectively by following certain steps and guidelines. In particular, it demonstrates what to do when an employee becomes emotional during an appraisal.
  • First Steps to Turning Around a Performance Problem
    Left unchecked, even what appear to be performance molehills can become mountains that cast a long shadow over company success. This course identifies the benefits of dealing with minor performance problems, including communication strategies, situational resolution and implementing corrective measures for employees who are unwilling or unable to perform.

For more information on SkillSoft’s performance management courses giveaway, please visit http://www.skillsoft.com/online/fy12/performance-management-appraisal/?srcID=PR

About SkillSoft

SkillSoft is a leading SaaS provider of on-demand e-learning and performance support solutions for global enterprises, government, education and small to medium-sized businesses. SkillSoft enables business organizations to maximize business performance through a combination of comprehensive e-learning content, online information resources, flexible learning technologies and support services. SkillSoft is on the web at http://www.skillsoft.com.

Content offerings include business, IT, desktop, compliance and consumer/SMB courseware collections, as well as complementary content assets such as Leadership Development Channel video products, KnowledgeCenter(TM) portals, virtual instructor-led training services and online mentoring services. SkillSoft's Books24x7(R) product offering includes access to more than 30,000 digitized IT and business books, as well as book summaries and executive reports. Technology offerings include the SkillPort(R) learning management system, Search & Learn(R), SkillSoft(R) Dialogue(TM) virtual classroom, and inGenius(R).

SkillSoft courseware content described herein is for information purposes only and is subject to change without notice. SkillSoft has no obligation or commitment to develop or deliver any future release, upgrade, feature, enhancement or function described in this press release except as specifically set forth in a written agreement.

SkillSoft, the SkillSoft logo, SkillPort, Search & -Learn, SkillChoice, Books24x7, ITPro, BusinessPro, OfficeEssentials, GovEssentials, EngineeringPro, FinancePro, AnalystPerspectives, ExecSummaries, ExecBlueprints, Express Guide, Dialogue and inGenius are trademarks or registered trademarks of SkillSoft Ireland Limited in the United States and certain other countries. All other trademarks are the property of their respective owners, countries.

SkillSoft
Donna Ayer, 603-821-3211
Donna_Ayer@SkillSoft.com
or
Lois Paul & Partners
Maribel Lopez, 617-986-5719
Maribel_Lopez@lpp.com

Source: SkillSoft

Released October 24, 2011