Many elaborate programs have been established and courses taught in the art of conducting this particular type of review. Supervisors have been led to believe that this is an area that all must enter, but the chance of success is slim. Nothing could be further from the truth. If we stop the gobbledygook, fear and nonsense that has surrounded this procedure, anyone can handle it with ease. Performance reviews should not only be helpful in improving performance, but should be an exhilarating, desirable, and rewarding experience for both supervisor and subordinate.
Performance reviews can be easy.
Let us first analyze the purpose that is to be accomplished. The only reason for their existence is to improve performance. Too many of the pitfalls that have been discussed by many writers have to do with facing the unpleasant task of telling an unsatisfactory employee that he is a poor worker. The verbal gymnastics they suggest to prevent getting this idea across would scare anyone but the most skilled psychoanalyst. We certainly have not accomplished what we have with a herd of incompetents.