Performance Appraisal - Do It Right!
It’s year end performance appraisal time. The Human Resource Department would view this as an opportunity for appraisers and the appraisees to review the whole year both individual’s and company’s performance, to determine any reward or punishment, and to set next year’s objectives and key performance indicators (KPIs). Most importantly, it is a communication session for both appraisers and appraisees. However, most appraisers will not take this opportunity to do so. They take the attitude that the good / outstanding performance is "what the appraisees are supposed to do" or "what we pay the appraisees for"; or the appraisers always want to be Mr. Nice Guy, for not punishing the non-performance appraisees.
Therefore, it is very important to create awareness that, the right performance appraisal process will benefit both the company as much as the employee. For the company, it is a mechanism for improving performance and rewarding achievement on a predictable, scheduled basis. It also offers on-going feedback from employees on how the organisation’s parts are operating. Employees, meanwhile, get both rewards for past efforts and directoins for the future, as well as a chance to be heard on how to improve things in the workplace. Appraisers need to be reminded that the whole performance appraisal idea is improvement, not fault-finding or blame-placing.
Secondly, the performance appraisal must be done in an objective way, which means by using a uniform rating scale (often numerical) and keeping non-business, personal opinions aside. Appraisers should be seemed to present a balanced portrait of the staff that includes both positive and negative observations.
Thereafter, appraisers and appraisees should come to an agreement to set goals that are measurable and achievable. If past goals have not been met, appraisers should provide guidance to assist the appraisees to achieve them in the future.
The above provide a guideline for a right conduct of performance appraisal, which will sure improve the performance of the employees, superiors and company!
