Managers
Support your team. Grow together. Strengthen ASU culture.
ASU’s performance and talent management approach is rooted in connection, feedback and continuous development. We believe effective management isn’t about once-a-year evaluations — it’s about building trust, supporting your team’s progress, and aligning people with purpose.
Consider this page a guide for leading with intention and providing employees the support they need at the right time.
Contact your OHR business partner with any questions.
Performance at ASU
Performance management and development at ASU focuses on ongoing conversations that promote clarity, accountability and alignment with the university charter. Whether you’re coaching toward goals or navigating challenges, performance management is a shared journey — not a checklist.
Workday Check-Ins
For managers, Check-Ins are about more than completing a task. It’s about leading with purpose.
Check-Ins are ASU’s new approach to conversations about performance. Built into Workday, they support meaningful dialogue and continuous development.
Check-Ins are more than a task to complete — they’re an opportunity to lead with purpose by:
- Strengthening trust and communication
- Recognizing accomplishments and identifying areas for development
- Aligning individual work with team priorities and the ASU’s missions and values
- Supporting each employee’s unique development journey
Check-In resources
Self-paced training in Workday Learning
Ongoing feedback and coaching
Establish a cadence of regular conversations to provide employees with timely, meaningful feedback that helps them improve and thrive. Best practices for performance conversations include:
- Normalizing feedback by making it part of regular one-on-ones.
- Using a balance of recognition and forward-focused feedback.
- Coaching through challenges rather than simply correcting them.
- Practicing active listening and asking thoughtful questions.
Managing underperformance
Address performance concerns immediately and clearly while offering support — no need to wait for the Check-In period.
- Schedule a one-on-one meeting with your employee.
- Share expectations and what you have observed — be specific.
- Listen and allow your employee to respond and ask clarifying questions.
- Reiterate expectations clearly and ask your employee to articulate their understanding.
- Offer support and coaching tips to facilitate improved performance.
- Use Check-Ins to reinforce areas of focus and progress.
- Connect with your department or college HR representative or HRBP for guidance and next steps.
Support career development and mobility
Create space for your employees to develop their skills and careers at ASU.
- Talk about development opportunities during Check-Ins and one-on-ones.
- Connect team members with LinkedIn Learning, stretch projects or mentoring.
- Support movement across teams or departments when it aligns with goals.
- Encourage a mindset of continuous learning and improvement across your team.
Resources for leading with purpose
Whether preparing for a Check-In, having a coaching conversation, or addressing performance concerns, the following tools and resources are available to support you:
ASU HR policy manual: Familiarize yourself with SPP 808: Performance Management for University Staff and SPP 309-01: Classified Staff Performance Evaluation for guidance on employee conduct and performance, and your responsibilities as a manager.
Check-In Coach: An AI assistant to help generate coaching prompts and example questions, to prepare for more confident and meaningful conversations with your employees.
College or department HR representative: Your embedded contact for support, questions and training coordination.
Employee assistance and well-being: Wellness classes and resources to support employee resilience.
HR business partner: Your partner for individualized guidance on performance management and employee relations within the Office of Human Resources.
LinkedIn Learning: Curated courses to strengthen your skills in coaching, leadership, difficult conversations and team development.
Workday Learning: Access self-paced trainings on Check-Ins, how to give feedback and performance management, designed for ASU managers.