Tip #7 — Demand that appraisals tell the truth.
We all remember from our school days that some teachers were easy graders and some were tough. But allowing variable standards is unfair in an organization where a level playing field is mandatory.
The easiest way to drive the truth into the system is to require that all appraisals be reviewed and approved by the appraisal-writer’s boss. Calibration sessions, where groups of supervisors compare and adjust their planned appraisal ratings before they become official, is a process that’s increasingly being used. And providing guidelines for the distribution of appraisal ratings helps rein in particularly tough or lenient appraisers by letting them know when they’re getting out of bounds.
About the Author
Dick Grote is a management consultant in Dallas, Texas and the author of several books. His most recent book, How to Be Good at Performance Appraisals, was published by the Harvard Business Review Press in July 2011.
