This is an internal official document of the company. It records recurring problems and specific areas in which an employee needs to make efforts to improve the quality and results of their work. If the performance indicators do not change according to the plan, the company may transfer the employee to another position or dismiss him. Blogger Nadine Huey decided to use this approach to refresh her relationship with her partner, and shared nadeedhui / TikTok his experience in TikTok.
In 2020, Nadine and her boyfriend, with whom they dated for three months and quickly began to live together because of the pandemic, were going through a difficult period. To maintain the relationship, the girl assigned the guy a "trial period" in the same three months and introduced a "performance improvement plan". Huey explained that her decision was not an ultimatum, but an attempt to try something new when all the previous ways to find a common language did not work. "I know it may sound harsh to some, but my boyfriend is an engineer. Sometimes it is very difficult to communicate with him if you do not use professional vocabulary that he is already familiar with. Besides, he liked the idea," said This Woman Put Her Boyfriend On A Performance Improvement Plan / HuffPost Nadine in an interview with HuffPost.She made a general note with the daily and weekly tasks that her partner had to perform, and also made a list of what he needed to work on. This approach has yielded results — the couple is still together and is using a performance improvement plan. In addition, Nadine and her boyfriend conduct a kind of check every week to figure out how comfortable they are in a relationship. Moreover, Nadine offered to create a plan for her, but the partner has no significant claims against her yet.
Many criticized Nadine for turning a personal relationship into a working relationship, sealed with something like a contract. But psychologists note Maybe You Should Put Your Partner on a “Performance Improvement Plan” / Lifehacker that a performance improvement plan might be a very good idea. It all depends on how you approach the question.
Any relationship is based on agreements, explicit or implicit. If both believe that a performance improvement plan will help each partner individually and the relationship as a whole, it's worth a try. But if one person starts manipulating the other, treating him as a child or a guilty bully on a "probation period", this can seriously harm the dynamics of the relationship.
A good union doesn't come out of nowhere. This is the result of the joint efforts of two people who make each other better. That is why a performance improvement plan will only work if it is aimed at both partners and everyone agrees with the advantages that this method can offer.
Nadine's project was successful because it suited her boyfriend, who likes to sort everything out. She was based on the strengths of her partner, his preferences and needs — and her plan bore fruit. If your partner loves to‑do lists, calendars and schedules and you want to improve something in the relationship, a productivity plan should not be discounted.
Creative people, on the contrary, will find it difficult to switch from the usual spontaneity to a clear organization. Healthy relationships cannot be built if you don't understand what your partner wants. Therefore, in this case, you need to find a way that is right for your couple.
Everything is very individual and depends on your habits and needs, as well as on the habits and needs of your partner. Here are some examples of how a performance improvement plan can be applied in a relationship. They will help you understand in which direction it is worth moving.
For example, you want to spend more time with your loved one, and he is an introvert by nature. Add to the plan a specific number of dates per week that the partner will have to go with you, and also make realistic changes to his schedule that will help him devote enough time to the relationship.
If your partner, on the contrary, is an extrovert and constantly brings friends home, and you want to relax after work in silence, include in the plan an item about how many times a week you are ready for home gatherings — for example, only once or twice. Such clear boundaries will help to avoid conflicts.
Another example: you love cleanliness, and your partner is used to living in a creative mess. Make a schedule of cleaning for the partner and the rules of cohabitation that he will be obliged to observe, for example, washing dishes immediately after eating and not leaving clothes on the chair. This will allow you to gradually find a middle ground between your needs.