Results, Performance Appraisal & Self-Reflection

Genuine self-reflection is one of the most effective ways to learn.

So rather than giving you a leadership strategy or tool as I usually do – I am going to ask you to stop for a minute – and reflect about something very practical.

If you do – you might very well learn something exceptionally useful – I promise.

So here we go …

As you already know – I do corporate leadership development. And among many other things I facilitate seminars about performance management.

One of the facts that never ceases to surprise me, is that when I talk about “Performance Appraisals” – about half of the managers that I work with perceive this “annual formality” as something unnecessary and time-wasting.

When it is time for this annual performance appraisal ritual, these executives just want to get it over with, write the corresponding checkmark – and move on.

So – whether you hate this annual performance appraisal tradition – or whether you love it – you will benefit from this self-reflection.

But before you submerge yourself into this self-reflection exercise – I want to make clear what the purpose of a performance appraisal is.

Hence – I am going to ask you:

What do you believe is the main purpose of a performance appraisal?

When I ask this question in my seminars – managers give me all sorts of answers – like …

“To review goals – whether they were reached or not – and why”

“To provide feedback”

“For salary purposes”

Etc.

IF it is true that you review goals, you provide feedback, you think about salary, and several other things in a performance appraisal session – it is also true that none of the above are the main purpose of a performance appraisal.

The main purpose of a performance appraisal is to help your direct report grow. Period.

I repeat:

The main purpose of a performance appraisal is to help your direct report grow.

One of your main duties as a leader is to help your employees grow. And a tool to help you accomplish just that is the performance appraisal session.

What do I mean by growth?

I mean two things …

To help your people possess the adequate skill level in order to achieve desired performance today.

And to help your people develop the ability to exceed desired performance and move to more complex performance tomorrow.

Jack Welch – former CEO of GE and considered by many the manager of the twentieth century – said it best: “Leaders receive dwarfs and deliver giants”

So remember:

The main purpose of a performance appraisal is to help your direct report grow.

OK – with this foundational principle as a starting point – let’s move on …

First of all – I am going to ask you to grab a piece of paper and a pen – or you might want to write on your computer if you want.

Either way – I highly suggest you do write.

If you write – you will get a lot more out of this exercise.

Ready?

Let’s go …

I am going to ask you three questions – and I want you to write your answer to the first question BEFORE you read the second question.

Then – answer the second question BEFORE you read the third question.

OK –

Here we go …

First question:

Concerning the performance appraisal of your direct reports (when you appraise their performance) – what are the three main challenges you normally face?

Take your time – think about it – and write your answer.

Remember – don’t move on to read the second question until you answer this first question.

Second question:

What are the three most important things your direct boss must do – so that when you have your performance appraisal with him/her (when s/he appraises your performance) – this session is REALLY valuable and useful for you?

Once again, take your time – think about it – and write your answer.

Third question:

Concerning the performance appraisal of your direct reports – what are the three things that you are going to start doing and/or stop doing and/or continue doing – as a result of this self-reflection?

Especially for this question – take your time to think through your answers – and then write them down.

And once you have written down your answers – go ahead and re-write them where appropriate: