THE
RAISING
THE BAR
WAY
Hi, I’m Coach, and welcome to The Raising the Bar Way.
Most frontline managers are expected to improve performance, without ever being properly shown how.
This free site is designed to change that.
Let me help you prevent problems, tackle issues properly and confidently, and protect yourself when your decisions or actions are criticised.
Coach-Guided
Performance Management
No HR jargon. No textbook theory. No management fads.
Just practical performance management support that works in the real world.
Let's get started....
These are some of the most common management issues frontline managers face today.
If you’re dealing with one of them right now, let me help you handle it properly.
A poor performer who has become toxic to the team
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An employee who just cannot do the job properly
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A formal grievance taken out
against you
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A high-performing employee who refuses to support the team when busy
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An employee who is constantly taking sick days
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An employee who resents you being appointed manager
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An new employee who who is not meeting the standard
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Managing a long-term sickness issue
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Rebuilding confidence after a performance issue goes wrong
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An employee who runs to Boss or HR when challenged about performance
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Managing a performance issue without the support of the boss
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WHAT IF THESE PROBLEMS COULD HAVE BEEN PREVENTED?
Many of these issues could have been prevented earlier, if managers had been properly prepared for what was coming. That’s what The Raising the Bar Way is designed to do.
START YOUR LEARNING HERE
The Book
EXPERIENCE WITHOUT EXPOSURE
Learn the lessons - without having to live through them first.
A workplace story for pragmatic managers dealing with poor performance, difficult behaviour, upward bullying and workplace politics.
Learn what to do, what mistakes to avoid and how to handle difficult situations confidently, without having to learn the hard way.
The first management book written as a workplace political thriller — helping pragmatic managers learn through real situations, pressure and consequences.
The book is available at a small cost, but you can still benefit from the site and the Raising the Bar Programme without purchasing it.
Book sales help support the continued development of free practical tools, resources and training for frontline managers.
REAL-WORLD LEARNING
Real situations. Real pressure. Real outcomes.
CHARACTERS YOU WILL RECOGNISE
Characters and personalities many managers will instantly recognise.
FOREWARNED IS FOREARMED
Know what to do before these situations happen to you.
CONTINUE YOUR LEARNING JOURNEY
Practical performance management learning for frontline managers who were never properly shown how.
The Raising the Bar eLearning Programme
Continue the story online through practical performance management training designed for pragmatic frontline managers.
PRACTICAL MANAGEMENT TRAINING
Performance management training every manager should be given when appointed.
RTB FUNDAMENTALS
Just the essential performance management knowledge required to improve, correct, develop and reward performance
SEE RTB IN PRACTICE
Watch the processes being applied in real workplace situations and see the results they achieve.
Focus on standards, evidence, process and fairness. helping managers stay professional, structured and defendable.
A NEW OBJECTIVE APPROACH
Focused on standards, evidence, process, and fairness, helping managers stay professional and defendable.
RIGHT OBJECTIVES NOT SMART
A more practical and performance-focused alternative to traditional SMART objectives.
AI ADMIN ASSISTANT -
USED RESPONSIBLY
Use AI to support notes. letters, summaries and structured follow-up, saving managers time and improving consistantly.
THE APPRAISABLE JOB DESCRIPTION (AJD)
Clear, measurable role expectations that make performance easier to explain, review, and improve.
IT ALL STARTS HERE ...
CLARIFY THE BAR
The Bar
APPRAISABLE JOB DESCRIPTION - AJD
The Game-Changer, only now practical because of AI.
The Appraisable Job Description (AJD) defines 'The Bar', The required standard of performance, behaviour and contribution.
Everything starts from here.
THE AJD DEFINES 'THE BAR'
AI-supported job descriptions that define standards, responsibilities, behaviours and measures of success.
A FAIR AND OBJECTIVE BENCHMARK
Creates a clear, appraisable benchmark that managers and employees can work from together.
CLARITY IMPROVES PERFORMANCE
People cannot fairly improve if expectations are unclear, standards are vague or success has never been properly defined
CLEAR EXPECTATIONS
Everyone knows what is required and how performance will be assessed
CONSISTENT AND OBJECTIVE
A shared benchmark improves fairness and consistency across the organisation.
IMPROVED PERFORMANCE
Clearer expectations help individuals and teams improve performanace more consistently.
BETTER OUTCOMES
People perform better when they understand what success looks like and what they are aiming for.
ONCE THE BAR IS CLEAR....
You can identify the gap and start closing it properly
Mind the Gap
Most performance problems begin with a gap between what the job requires, what is actually happening and what managers are prepared or supported to address.
RAISING THE BAR-GAP ANALYSIS
is a modern way of approaching performance management across all workplace situations:
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New Employees
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Annual Appraisal
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Early Intervention
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Formal Procedures
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Talent Development
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Reward
Appraise
The Bar.
Identify the performance gap.
Identify
Gap-Goals
Set clear goals for closing the gap
Formulate a
Gap-Plan .
Create a structured plan for closing the gap.
Review the
GAP-Plan.
Review progress and decide next steps.
PRACTICAL PROCESS
A practical structure managers can use in almost any performance situation.
FAIR AND OBJECTIVE
Focus on the gap, not the person
EARLY AND PROACTIVE
Address issues earlier, before they escalate into bigger problems.
BETTER OUTCOMES
Closing the gap improves individual, team and organisational performance.
CONTINUOUS SUPPORT AND GUIDANCE
TO HELP YOU RAISE THE BAR
Immediate support, when you need it most
This section brings together practical learning, tools, templates and guidance from the book and RTB online programme.
Designed for quick reference, practical support, and real workplace use.
Key takeaways, summaries and practical reminders to reinforce what you have learned
Key Learning
Chapter learning points
Coach flipchart learning
Quick-reference learning formatted for mobile use.
Ready-to-use tools, letters and templates referenced throughout the book and programme.
Documentation Bank
Letters and templates
Forms and checklists
RTB Procedures and processes
Real-world insight, practical advice and guidance from Coach for handling difficult situations.
Coach's Take
Practical examples of how AI can support managers professionally, fairly, and responsibly.
AI Used Responsibly
Improving notes and documentation
Creating paper trails
Scanning and deciphering long documents and letters
Advice from experience
Support when situations become difficult
Guidance when confidence or career is under pressure
This site is completely free to use.
No upsells, no memberships, no email addresses.
Built to help frontline managers improve, correct and reward performance and support them when difficult situations or accusations arise.
Start learning
Start improving
Start Raising the Bar
Coach..
Sponsored by
Outlook Management Development
Established 1998
Because Manager Performance is Everything
