Tip #8 — Train all appraisers.
Performance appraisal requires a multitude of skills — behavioral observation and discrimination, goal-setting, developing people, confronting unacceptable performance, persuading, problem-solving, planning. Unless appraiser training is universal and comprehensive, the program won’t produce much. And be sure to stress the most important requirement of all: the need for courage.
One of the most useful training tools is to give all appraisers a sample of a completed performance appraisal that’s a model of the way you’d like all appraisals to be written. And make sure that the performance described in the sample appraisal is that of an ordinary performer (or even a marginal one), not that of a star.
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.
