Why Performance Management Needs a Rethink — and What Comes Next, with Edie Goldberg

In this insightful episode of the Cohesion Podcast, Miriam Connaughton (Chief People Officer at Simpplr) sits down with Edie Goldberg, Ph.D., founder of E. L. Goldberg & Associates and renowned future of work thought leader. With over 30 years of experience in HR strategy, talent management, and organizational effectiveness, Edie has helped countless organizations evolve how they attract, engage, and retain talent. Edie shares why traditional performance management systems fail both employees and organizations — and offers a vision for what she calls performance enablement. Drawing on research, her own practice, and her forthcoming book, she explains why ratings don’t tell the full story, how intrinsic motivation drives better outcomes, and why it’s time to shift from managing people to enabling their best performance. From reframing feedback and recognition to embracing AI-enabled coaching and real-time insights, Edie’s perspective is both bold and practical — ideal for HR leaders, managers, and anyone ready to leave outdated practices behind. If you’re tired of the annual eye-roll that comes with performance reviews, this conversation will inspire you to reimagine what’s possible. Topics Covered: Why traditional performance management systems fail to engage or improve performanceThe unintended consequences of ratings and rankingsHow to shift focus from backward-looking reviews to forward-looking enablementWhy development, recognition, and alignment to purpose matter more than everThe role of managers in fostering culture and performance — and how to equip themHow AI, analytics, and real-time feedback are transforming the fieldEdie’s greatest hope — and fear — for the future of performance management Connect with Edie Goldberg: LinkedIn | elgoldberg.com Subscribe to get the latest conversations on employee experience, change leadership, and internal communications.