Framework for Leadership
Introducing the COR Leadership Framework
Paycor empowers leaders to develop winning teams. Our product is purpose-built for leaders. And now, our COR Leadership Framework explains how your organization can use best practices and technology to build a culture of accountability and engagement. The first step is to transform managers into leaders.
Paycor’s COR Leadership Framework provides the tools and technology organizations need to build a culture of effective leadership.

Paycor Pulse —
Leverage the Pulse Leadership Survey to create a psychologically safe environment for employees to share feedback on managers, gain valuable insights into leader performance, and identify areas for growth.

COR Leadership Insights —
Surfaces employee demographic, recognition, job status, and compensation data for frontline managers to quickly identify which employees may need attention.

Paycor Paths —
Deliver personalized, scalable, and compelling leadership development to help grow your frontline managers and future leaders, enhance culture across your organization, and increase employee engagement.
COR Leadership Solutions
The COR Leadership Dashboard, Paycor Pulse, and Paycor Paths work together to capture, illustrate, and develop leadership performance, skills, and behaviors.


Leaders Make All the Difference
The COR Leadership Framework is built upon decades of research indicating that the most effective leaders focus on intentionally coaching their employees towards constant improvement, optimize the performance of their employees and team to meet organizational goals, and recognize and reward their employees appropriately to retain top talent.
Gallup found that 70% of the variance in team engagement is explained by the quality of managers. Great managers drive productivity, loyalty, customer satisfaction, and short- and long-term business success. Bad managers do the opposite.
Paycor’s COR Leadership Framework is your pathway to building a culture of effective leadership in your organization.

Why Leaders? Why Now
60% of HR leaders say “leader and manager effectiveness” is their #1 priority in 2023 (Gartner). Why? Because leaders across the organization disproportionately affect employee engagement.
In the last 6 months, 62% of employees resigned citing “toxic company culture” as their #1 reason for leaving, followed by low salary, poor management, and unsustainable work-life balance (FlexJobs). What do all those reasons for leaving have in common? It all comes from the top.
Download our guide, “The 3 Leadership Behaviors that Drive Fierce Loyalty & Extreme Engagement” to learn:
- Why intentional coaching is key. And how to do it.
- How to optimize performance to meet organizational goals.
- The best ways to recognize and reward employees to retain top talent.
- Practical plans you can use today.
Transform Frontline Managers into Leaders

Coach —
Help employees find the sweet spot between their personal aspirations and the needs of the organization.
How Paycor Helps:
- Onboarding
- 1:1 tool
- Goal Alignment
- Career Management
- Leader Homepage
- 9-box
- LMS
- Paycor Paths

Optimize —
Balance a relentless drive to excellence without burning people out or micromanaging.
How Paycor Helps:
- Progress Tracking
- Performance Reviews
- Reporting
- Goals/OKRs
- Time Budgeting / Forecasting

Retain —
Incentivize employees in a holistic way that makes them feel authentically valued.
How Paycor Helps:
- Benefits
- Compensation Planning
- Payroll
- Pulse
- Paycor Wallet
- Recognition
- Analytics
- Scheduling
- Team Insights Dashboard

Resources
Get the expert advice and thought leadership you need to help solve your toughest business challenges.
Article
Read Time: 12 min
Performance Improvement Plans: What They Are and When to Use Them
What is a performance improvement plan, exactly? Here’s what you need to know, including when to use them, how to use them, and what they should include.
Article
Read Time: 15 min
Best Practices for Conducting Mid-Year Reviews
Want to conduct a successful mid-year performance review? Here are some of the best practices and tips for performing mid-year reviews.
Live Webinar
How to Cultivate Psychological Safety at Work in a Time of Cultural Change
HRCI & SHRM credit available
We live in interesting times. For better or worse, U.S. workers are navigating massive and continuous cultural shifts, with major personal and professional ramifications. How can HR support employees with a wide range of life experiences, belief systems, and needs without sacrificing the company’s long-term goals?
11:00am ET, April 10th, 2025
Guides + White Papers
Read Time: 1 min
8 Pillars of an Effective Leadership Development Program
We’re living through an era of rapid change, and leadership development can help your employees and business thrive. Learn about the 8 pillars of an effective leadership development program.