June 2004
A cynical definition of performance appraisal: Feedback from people who don't want to give it, given to people who don't want to receive it.
Far too often, in small and large businesses alike, this is the dreary reputation of performance evaluations. Though most organizations see value in conducting performance reviews, most givers and receivers of feedback dislike the experience—often intensely. The result: Disposable evaluations and wasted time and effort.
And yet, performance appraisals could actually be used to inspire employees, not make them perspire. When we inject value into performance evaluations, the result can be a roadmap for development and a rewarding process of discovery for both givers and receivers.
Value means worth, from the Latin verb, valere: "to be worth, to be strong." The strength of a business is equal to the strength of its co-workers; thus, focusing on the growth of employees supports the well-being of the entire company.
Flaws in the Evaluation System
The problem is that performance appraisals for all employees are often completed annually within a short timeframe, which doesn't usually lend itself well to careful, honest, well-thought-out evaluations for each employee. Standardized forms end up looking like cookie cutter documents with similar wording, strengths and weaknesses.
On a scale of one to five, rate the employee's enthusiasm.
Who could possibly be enthusiastic about such a stale process?
Other problems with the typical employee review system are:
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Doing all the appraisals at once can create a tendency to compare and rank employees, which takes away the individual assessment |
  Lori Link Executive Coach Lori is committed to helping her clients achieve both personal and professional mastery. Over twenty years of Human Resources experience and seven years of coaching have provided her a unique and diverse perspective. Her corporate background includes General Electric, UCCEL Corporation, PHH, and FirstUSA. Lori assists CEOs, executives, entrepreneurs, sales people and professionals from diverse industries to clarify their vision, eliminate personal roadblocks, implement action plans, and achieve success. She partners with her clients to achieve both personal and professional goals to ensure synergistic solutions and a balanced life. Professional Certified Coach * Member of International Coach Federation, Coach University and CoachVille * Certified Behavioral, Attributes and Values Analyst * Master Instructor with The Institute for Advanced Assessment Studies
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