Unlocking Potential Talent Development at KBR
Unlocking Potential is a new KBR Link section that highlights KBR’s Talent Development efforts and the amazing stories of peoples’ career journeys at KBR.
Wherever you are on your journey, there’s a wealth of resources available to help you grow — from performance and career development, to professional certifications, to leadership and technical skills courses, and more! KBR wants every team member to take advantage of the resources at your fingertips to help take charge of your career.
In this edition, we’re focusing on KBR Agile Performance and Development.
A Fresh, New Approach to Performance Management
At KBR, we strive to promote a culture in which our people can thrive and where continuous development and professional growth are part of the standard employee experience. In July 2021, we launched a pilot for a revamped performance management system tailored to optimize the experience for our employees and managers, and to contribute toward our overall business success.
Embracing the ethos of a reimagined KBR — underpinned by our mission-driven focus, innovative solutions and technology — we proudly introduced our Agile Performance and Development program. Central to this program is empowerment, encouraging individuals to seize ownership of their career paths and growth while also nurturing line managers to help make them stronger, more impactful leaders with better people management and development skills.
KBR’s Agile Performance Management process is focused on:
- Check-in Conversations — frequent, forward-looking conversations between team leaders and team members.
- Identifying or revisiting goals and aligning priorities.
- Providing coaching and feedback for success.
- Discussing development, professional growth opportunities and career aspirations.
Not Your Ordinary Annual Review
Unlike traditional performance review models where it is typical to wait months to receive feedback, employees and managers are encouraged to have ongoing Check-in Conversations through which employees can receive real-time guidance and support to enhance their skills and achieve their goals. This agile approach fosters a culture of transparency and collaboration, through which employees can feel empowered to take ownership of their development journey. Agile Performance and Development also enables KBR to respond swiftly to changing market conditions and customer needs. By aligning individual team member goals with strategic KBR objectives, teams can pivot quickly and seize opportunities.
Since the launch of the new program in 2021, the KBR Talent Development team has successfully rolled it out to 19,000 employees globally, but there is still some work to do to ensure that everyone is getting the most out of it. To support this goal, the Talent Development team is working on these key focus areas in 2024:
- Training: Delivering new online training modules to all eligible employees to help educate and inform them on KBR’s Agile Performance and Development program and how they can use these tools to be successful in their careers.
- Live Info Sessions: Talent Development and HR Business Partners will work closely together to help improve reach and consistency of the program. HR Business Partners will be trained to help embed the program across KBR business units and will introduce workshop topics such as goals and priorities, coaching, and feedback.
- Give and Get Feedback: The Talent Development team is currently in the testing phase of a new feature that will help to support ongoing coaching and feedback directly in KBR’s Workday platform.
At KBR, accountability stands as a cornerstone of success, and everyone is encouraged to take ownership of their performance and progression. We also understand the importance of having supportive leaders and line managers and the role they play in an individual’s success and growth. That’s why our strategy and focus areas ensure a balanced approach to improving the manager and employee experience when it comes to performance reviews and development and maintaining KBR’s position as a great place to work!
Learn More About KBR Agile Performance and Development!
1. Check-in Conversation - Home (sharepoint.com)
2. Coaching and Feedback Tips Check-in Conversation - Tips-for-Coaching
3. Step-by-Step Guide to Employee Development Check-in Conversation - Step-by-Step-Employee
