Accessing Evaluate
From OpenBlend notifications:
When an evaluation cycle is started, you will receive the following email from OpenBlend, alerting you that you have Evaluation(s) to complete for your team. You will also be notified when your direct reports have completed their self-evaluation (if applicable).
You can use the "Sign in" link to access the evaluation(s) you need to complete. This link will take you straight to your Evaluate Manager Evaluation page.
From your OpenBlend 'My Team' area:
Once you have logged in to OpenBlend, simply click on the 'My Team' button on the home screen. Then click on 'Team Tools' in the left-hand side navigation bar. From the Team Tools menu, select the 'Evaluate' tab from the top menu to display all open Evaluate Cycles.
We have also expanded Evaluate outside of the ‘Me’ section, into the main navigation to support Managers who will be completing Evaluations for direct reports. When clicking on ‘For Myself’ you will be taken to self-evaluations you need to complete (for you). 'For others' will guide you to completing evaluations for direct reports.
Please note: If you cannot see the Evaluate menu item on the Team Insights page, this will be due to the cycle not being made applicable to you. If you believe you should have access to this, please contact your HR Team.
Once you are in Evaluate; you will have three options depending on the status of the cycle:
- Start: For any cycles that you have not yet started
- Continue: Where you may have partly completed a review for a direct report, or you have more than one direct report and have outstanding reviews
- View: For any completed cycles
Completing your Manager Evaluation(s)
Click on the direct report’s name to access the questions, as seen in the screenshot below to start your manager review.
Please note: We recommend that you allow your direct report to complete their self-evaluation before you complete your review so you can see their responses. If your direct report has completed their self-evaluation, you will see their comments on the right-hand side of the evaluation.
Evaluate questions are structured with either comments only or comments and a drop-down selection. You are also provided with some “Reflection tips” to help you with your evaluation. During this process, the progress of your review is auto-saved so you can come back to your review and complete it later if required.
Repeat this process for each of your direct reports until you have completed all your manager evaluations.
Once you have completed your manager evaluation, click the "Submit" button and this will then finalise your review.
Booking an Evaluate 1:1 with your direct report
Once you and your direct report have submitted your written reviews, it will be moved to the 'Ready to Discuss' status (or 'Awaiting Calibration' if Calibration is being used. Once the Calibration process is complete the status will show as 'Calibrated for Discussion'). When you initially submit the review you will be prompted to book a 1:1 with your direct report.
You can choose to book a 1:1 with your direct report here by clicking 'Book 1:1’. To ensure you don’t impact any recurring 1:1s, we suggest that you book a ‘One Off’ 1:1.
If you choose not to book a 1:1 at this stage, you can begin a 1:1 when you are ready by navigating to the Evaluate menu through the left hand navigation. Click on 'Continue' for the cycle you wish to discuss, click on the direct report whom you wish to have the 1:1 with and you will have two options from the pop-up: To 'Discuss in a 1:1' or to 'View on my own'. If you are ready to discuss, click on that option, and a 1:1 will be started immediately.
Discussing an Evaluate 1:1 with your direct report
If you have not already prepared an agenda you will be asked to select your Focus for the 1:1. You should select "Evaluate 1:1'. You do not need to add anything to the agenda from here as the Completed Cycle (to be discussed), will automatically be added.
This will be your direct reports' first opportunity to review your evaluation comments, alongside their own – so make sure you have prepared for the 1:1
Making notes during your 1:1
There are two areas you can make notes in during your Evaluate 1:1:
- Notes: The notes section applies to all 1:1 scenarios and will be visible to you and your direct report following your 1:1 in ‘Activity’ and in ‘My 1:1s’.
- Additional comments: Comments in this section will be saved within this Evaluation only. You must remember to 'Save' any comments added.
When you are ready to complete the Evaluate 1:1, scroll down to the ‘Way Forward’ section and click ‘Complete Evaluation’. If you do not do this, the review will stay open, even when the 1:1 is ended.
Download our PDF guide to completing your Manager Evaluation.