Performance Appraisals

Performance appraisals are stressful for both the manager and the employee. If you are properly prepared, you can reduce the stress of not only writing the appraisal, but delivering it as well. When you prepare your evaluation of an employee:

1. Keep a positive attitude towards the appraisal process and conduct each evaluation realistically with respect to the strengths or weaknesses of the employee.
2. Make certain that all criteria on which the employee is evaluated is clearly job related.
3. Rate employees solely in relation to the job responsibilities, not in terms of how similar they are to you.
4. Establish the standards of performance expected on the job before rating the employee and base your evaluation on those pre-determined requirements or standards.

In the future I will address the steps that both managers and employees can take to have an effective appraisal.

Performance evaluations are a tool for building trust, open communiation and better supervisor / employee relationships through all levels of the organization.