Is The Annual Performance Review a Waste of Time?

Football season has begun; imagine the coach waiting• Avoid: using always, never & worst
until the end of the season to provide feedback to the• Who, what & where are perfectly acceptable.
players. Students receive report cards on a regular• Be supportive
basis (often quarterly). Why in the corporate world• Use questions to give yourself leverage -- why
have we created this worthless "Annual Review"?sounds accusatory (avoid)
The intent no doubt is to improve performance. In• Be specific
order to change behavior and have positive outcomes• Share information (not advice)
feedback must be provided on a consistent regular• Feedback should be well-timed, better when the
basis.receiver asks for guidance.
"Leaders must be close enough to relate to others, but• Ensure clear communications
far enough ahead to motivate them." John Maxwell• Allow time for questions and follow-up
Effective feedback is one of the most crucialAs a leader your ability to provide effective feedback
elements to help improve performance. People wantand coach others will have a direct impact on the
to be heard and understood. Experience shows thatresults you can produce. We are all being crushed by
problem solving without listening is almost alwaysthe time demands of today's marketplace, also the
ineffective. Listening gets to the REAL issues.pressure of the "tyranny of the urgent', however, the
Effective listening builds trust.development of our people is the most critical factor
Top performers want and need feedback -- theyfor success.
know this is how they improve. The goal of feedbackAs an entrepreneur, coach and parent I have found
is not to flatten someone's ego but rather to give themthe above guidelines very helpful and effective.
encouragement and to challenge them to improve.Feedback when needed and when appropriate is
Elements of Effective Feedback:result producing, why wait a year? What has your
• Focus on performance, not personalityexperience been with performance reviews?