Stop, Start, Keep.

I am often asked by clients how they can improve their communication with their direct reports, colleagues or their team to enhance their individual or collective performance. Typically, they have used performance reviews, KPI’s, monthly reports and any number of other formal methods with some success. My experience is the complex processes and formal language of review creates a barrier for many of those involved.

I regularly suggest they consider using “Stop, Start, Keep” to initiate conversations which cover key issues in a simple and effective manner. This is best done by asking those you work with to list one thing you should stop doing, one thing you should start doing and two things you should keep doing to improve your effectiveness. The ratio of two things to change, start and stop, and two things to keep is important. Improved communication and performance comes from shared perspectives, better understanding and agreed actions. A joint responsibility.

This is how “Stop, Start, Keep” works.

Firstly, share your objective is to improve communication and performance using a simple tool. Be sure to add improvement is a joint responsibility and something you will work on together. Ask them to make a simple list of all the behaviours or actions they would like you to consider in working together under the three headings.

What would like you to

· STOP doing

· START doing, &

· KEEP doing

which would enable them to improve their communication with you and their performance. You will come to the meeting with a list under the same headings to discuss with them.

My experience with Stop, Start, Keep is the simplicity of the language and preparation enables breakthrough conversations, improved understanding, strengthened relationships and better performance. I have used Stop, Start, Keep as a facilitation tool with groups of all sizes to improve communication and performance.