The Easiest Way to Boost Team Performance This Summer
Mid-year Performance Reviews
Mid-Year Check-Ins: A Simple Step to Reenergize Your Team and Drive Results
Many small businesses are feeling the pressure this year—slower sales, tighter budgets, and rising costs. When growth is tough, it's easy to focus only on the numbers. But often, the key to turning things around starts with your people.
Now is the perfect time to pause and have a mid-year performance conversation with your team. These don’t have to be formal reviews or complicated processes. In fact, a simple conversation can go a long way in helping employees feel supported, realign priorities, and get motivated for the second half of the year.
How to Finish the Year Strong
At People Architects, we work closely with many small business owners who are navigating a difficult year. Revenues are slower than expected, and costs are rising.
While the pressure to perform is real, your team wants to help—you just have to show them how.
This is a great time to step back and share a simple, honest update with your employees:
How is the company doing so far this year?
What are the top goals we must focus on to succeed?
How does each team or role contribute to achieving those goals?
We recommend delivering this message in a company meeting, town hall, or one-on-one conversations, whatever format fits your culture best.
When employees understand the big picture, they’re more likely to lean in and help move the company forward.
3 Reasons Why Mid-Year Conversations Matter
They help employees refocus on goals and see where they stand
They give leaders the chance to reset expectations and clarify priorities
They show your team that you're invested in their growth and success
Not Sure Where to Start? Keep It Simple
Your company may have a formal mid-year performance review process.
If not, use these four questions to guide a quick but impactful conversation:
What’s going well in your role right now?
What’s been challenging so far this year?
What are your top 1–2 goals for the next 90 days?
How can I support your success?
“This doesn’t have to be a formal or uncomfortable meeting. A simple conversation about how things are going can go a long way. It helps employees feel heard, get focused, and re-energize their work—which almost always leads to better results.”
— Nikki Schiro, Chief Operations Officer, People Architects
Mid-Year Performance Conversations
Schedule Your Mid-Year Conversations: July 1–30
We recommend all leaders and managers schedule mid-year check-ins between July 1 and July 30. These conversations are a great opportunity to motivate your team, align on priorities, and lay the groundwork for a stronger second half.
Plan Ahead with People Architects
At People Architects, we help our Fractional HR clients create a 12-month HR plan that aligns people and strategy. This mid-year check-in is one of the proactive activities we build into our plan to support accountability, engagement, and business results.
If you’re ready for a more strategic approach to managing your team, let’s build a plan that works for you.
