Illustrations by Ray Vella
3. Performance Appraisals
What goes wrong? Most people are all too familiar with annual performance appraisals as companies have utilized them in one form or another for the past 50 years. The process itself typically falls short due to many things, not the least of which is that any system that doesn't recognize performance as it's happening misses the opportunity to get the most and best from employees. The most serious fault of the typical performance appraisal system is its assumption that all performers cannot receive a top rating at the same time.
What to do instead? Appraisal should be continuous. Set up an environment in which each employee knows how well he or she has done at the end of every working day. Evaluate each performer against what he or she is expected to do, not in relation to anyone else.
