Why is it that many supervisors and their direct reports don’t like performance review time and will do anything possible to avoid them? The reason for many is the vicious circle of avoidance-dislike-avoidance-dislike. However, just like bowling or golf one gets better with practice and the better you get the more enjoyable it becomes.
It is rare for someone to bowl a 300 game their first time rolling a ball. It is more likely that there will be a few gutter balls, plenty of left pins, a missed spare or two. But after a few games and pointers from your fellow bowlers, you roll a strike and soon you find you have more open frames than not. It becomes more enjoyable and you agree to do it again. While there still may be some apprehension the next time you’re asked to go bowling, you’ll still do it.
Good golfers don’t just play once a year, they get out on the links as soon as the snow melts off the greens. And before that in the off season, they practice their swing at an indoor golf range or do 18 holes on the Wii. Then come spring they are at the driving range loosening up their muscles and washing the golf cart. These golfers can tell you the day of the month their copy of Golf Digest arrives in the mail. In short they live for golf.
Both bowlers and golfers, once they become more proficient, experience the enjoyment of the game and it no longer becomes an occasional thing. They join a league or set a regular tee time with their foursome and it becomes part of their weekly routine. They do this because they enjoy the game, but more importantly they enjoy who they are with.
All of this is the same for performance appraisals. Supervisors should not expect to deliver a perfect review their first time out, it takes practice. They should seek advice from someone who is experienced in performance reviews such as a more experienced supervisor or human resources. Rehearse what you will say with someone else and ask them to critique your presentation.
These reviews will become easier and more enjoyable the more you do them. Appraisals should not be a once a year thing, it is an activity that should be performed as frequently as you can. I’m not suggesting that a supervisor sits down with their report and conducts formal reviews quarterly. What I am suggesting is providing more feedback on a regular basis. This is like going to the driving range or spending time on the putting green where you concentrate on one or two things. You don’t play the whole round.
Soon you will enjoy these appraisals and more importantly the people you are with. Then when the formal review happens you know how it’s going to be played out, and there will be no surprises.
