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Three Ways Managers and Employees Can Have 10X Better Performance Conversations Using ONA

Leveraging ONA data to amplify growth, productivity, and morale in performance reviews.

Three Ways Managers and Employees Can Have 10X Better Performance Conversations Using ONA
Last updated: February 2026

Performance reviews are a cornerstone of organizational growth, aligning individual aspirations with the company's broader vision. In this era of data-driven insights, tools like Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) are revolutionizing the way these reviews are conducted. Leveraging ONA data from Confirm can significantly improve performance review conversations for both employees and managers.

Understanding ONA

Organizational Network Analysis (ONA) is a method that helps visualize and analyze relationships and flows within an organization. It assists in identifying influencers, pinpointing information bottlenecks, and understanding collaboration patterns. Confirm offers tools and insights to conduct ONA effectively, building a culture of transparency and growth.

Insightful Questions for Employees

In the ONA process facilitated by Confirm, employees have the opportunity to answer and gain insights from several critical questions that help in mapping the organizational network effectively. These questions are:

  1. Who do you go to for help and advice? This question helps in identifying the knowledge hubs within the organization, the individuals who are seen as reliable sources of information and guidance.
  2. Who energizes or motivates you? Understanding who the motivators in the team are can help in building a positive and energetic work environment.
  3. Who do you see as a "Gold Star," or outstanding contributor? This question aids in recognizing the high performers in the organization, encouraging a culture of excellence.
  4. Who do you believe needs additional support or attention? Identifying individuals who might be struggling allows for timely intervention and support, promoting a nurturing workplace.

The Role of Tenure in ONA

It's noteworthy that tenure plays a significant role in the accumulation of nominations to these questions. Employees who have been with the company for a longer period tend to be more recognized as sources of help and advice, owing to their experience and deeper understanding of the organizational dynamics. Within the Confirm platform, both employees and managers can observe this development trend. It allows for a comparative analysis where individuals or teams can gauge their growth and influence within the organization against the backdrop of their tenure. This feature builds a culture of continuous development, where employees are encouraged to evolve and expand their influence as they grow within the company.

For Employees: Amplify Your Growth and Influence

  1. Self-awareness and Growth: Utilize ONA data to pinpoint your position within the network. It can help you identify areas where you can increase your influence and collaboration, amplifying your growth.
  2. Preparation: Before the review, review the data to understand your strengths and areas for improvement. Be ready to discuss specific instances where you have contributed positively to the network, setting the stage for a better conversation.
  3. Goal Setting: Use the insights from ONA to set realistic and data-backed goals for the next review period, aiming to increase your contributions and collaborations.

For Managers: Grow Your Team's Productivity and Morale

  1. Objective Analysis: Utilize ONA data as an objective basis to evaluate an employee's performance, reducing biases in evaluations and improving the productivity of the conversation.
  2. Tailored Feedback: Leverage ONA insights to provide specific, data-driven feedback, helping employees clearly understand their impact on the organization, and building better dialogues.
  3. Strategic Decision Making: Use ONA data to make informed decisions about team structures, collaboration, and communication strategies, aiming to improve team morale and productivity.

Conclusion

Incorporating ONA data from platforms like Confirm into performance review conversations can build a more transparent, objective, and growth-oriented culture. Both employees and managers can benefit immensely by aligning individual performances with organizational goals effectively, paving the way for 10X better performance conversations.

Frequently Asked Questions

What is Three Ways Managers and Employees Can?

Leveraging ONA data to amplify growth, productivity, and morale in performance reviews. Regular, specific feedback is the most cost-effective development tool available -- it helps employees course-correct quickly and accelerates growth without requiring external training spend.

How do you give effective feedback?

Give effective feedback by being specific about the behavior (not the person), connecting it to observable impact, delivering it close in time to the event, separating positive reinforcement from developmental feedback, and ending with clear next steps. Use the SBI model: Situation, Behavior, Impact.

How often should managers give feedback?

Managers should give informal feedback continuously -- after significant events, weekly during 1:1s, and immediately when behavior is exceptional or needs correction. Annual reviews should never be the first time an employee hears significant feedback. Continuous feedback prevents surprises and accelerates development.

What is the difference between feedback and coaching?

Feedback tells someone what happened and what the impact was. Coaching helps someone figure out how to improve through questions and dialogue. Effective managers do both: they give specific feedback about past behaviors and coach employees on how to develop future capabilities. Feedback without coaching leaves employees without a path forward.

How do you create a culture of feedback?

Create a feedback culture by: modeling feedback-giving at the senior level, training managers on specific feedback techniques, building feedback into regular rituals (1:1s, retrospectives), normalizing peer feedback through structured processes, recognizing people who give and receive feedback well, and ensuring psychological safety so feedback is welcome.

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