Appraisals And Performance Management: The Errors Continue

New Year Training Resolution: Better appraisals

Published by Mike Shea in Management · 22/1/2013 12:54:08
Tags: Appraisals, performance, management

 

 

Ever since management came to be viewed as a distinct function in the late 19th and early 20th centuries, there has been a burgeoning catalogue of management theories, management books and management training.  Gurus like Peter Drucker (inventor of the concept of management by objectives) and W E Deming (Plan-Do-Check-Act cycle of design and quality management) provided innovative ways of improving the management and productivity of organisations.  They have been followed by many, many more commentators.   It is surprising, therefore, given the wealth of advice and opinion that is now available, how poorly appraisal systems continue to be designed and operated, as if companies do not really understand what appraisals are for.
Appraisals should achieve two or three things:  a mutual agreement between appraiser and appraisee of what the appraisee  has achieved in the past year and how they achieved it – results and behaviours; an assessment of personal development needs related to the job they have to do and a plan to attend to those needs in the forthcoming period; if appropriate to the individual, development needs with a view to promotion and a plan to attend to those.   Above all, the appraisee must feel that they have had a fair, constructive and worthwhile review and been able to voice their opinions freely.
The appraisal interview should not be the time when dissatisfaction with performance is first aired – any performance issues should be dealt with as they arise, not stored up for the appraisal interview.  There should be no surprises in an appraisal interview for either party.  The appraisal interview should not be a woolly conversation based on the question: ’What do you want to achieve this year?’ and it should not produce goals that are superfluous to the job or the development of the appraisee to enable them to do the job better.

Source: EnCours Blog - Management Development

The Beautiful Side Of ANGER!!! (How To Handle Injustice)

More than we realize "Emotions" play a very vital role in the final outcome of our lives. Our emotions control all our actions and reactions. Every human behavior is orchestrated by our Emotions, either for good or otherwise.

Experts in Emotional Intelligence (E.I) have propounded myriads of theories attempting to explain why we behave the way we do.

Nevertheless, I want to discuss something I meditated upon recently.

There are two concepts in human emotion: Call them "Yin" & "Yang" if you will. 

But, I call them "Love" & "Anger".

I believe there's a lot of waste going on around us, in the realms of "emotions"

People get fired by their bosses unjustly. Raped at a very young age by a trusted person. Forcefully divorced by a Cynical Spouse. Expelled from the university for the wrong reasons. Unable to complete education dues to lack of funds. Graduated out of school with a 3rd class due to sickness. Always Being Marked down by a Terrible Boss/Supervisor. Always getting 1 Notch every appraisal Year. Left (Unjustly) at the Same Salary for donkey-years. (The list is inexhaustible)

You and I know someone who fit at least one of the descriptions above. (I actually know several folks for every case mentioned above. I'm sure you do too).

These are folks who have suffered great degrees of "Injustice". Injustice from their fellow country-men and from "unfairness" in all ramifications.

Folks like this are usually angry, as expected. While some have chosen to live a life (As described by Henry Thoreau) of "quite desperation". A life that the King of Afrobeats Fela Kuti called "Suffering and Smiling".

Then, it occurred to me what a waste! What a waste of Power! What a waste of Potency, Of a Raw Fuel for effectiveness Focus and Determination. A quintessential elixir of "Purposefulness". The engine house of capacity for "PURSUIT".

In my estimate "Anger" can be useful, if properly used.

Hey, boiled water can produce a nice meal or scars through the hands of a jealous lover. Guns can be used to defend the innocent, protect national sovereignty at war, or be used to kill innocent souls in cold blood. Positive usefulness is the operative word here.

The point I'm making is simple "Your ANGER can be an ASSET".

Put to proper use  can be the raison d'etat for your Success or Greatness in Life.

I'm not talking about being "Revengeful" I'm talking about How you can "Re-channel" or "Leverage" your hurt to your own advantage.

As a growing kid, I watched lots of old Chinese Kungfu movies.
Usually the same story line "You killed my master when I was 10, now I'm 20. I've been "training". Today, I'll kill you and avenge my master".

Fantastic as the fights were ( I loved the sound effects of the kicks & acrobatics), However, once in a while, you find the protagonist being "Taught" during his training years ( They're usually groomed in the hands of another "Drunken Master" or Old wise teacher in the bush...) telling the young boy, "When the time comes, use your anger wisely".

So, I ask you today. Are you angry? Are you very offended?
By your boss? Ex-boss? Ex lover? Parents who didn't pay your school fees? Cynical neighbors who derided your childhood dreams?. 

Out-rightly bad supervisor? Or Draconian Company Policy? Etc

Well, I want to tell you congratulations! You're qualified!
You have the right ingredient for Great Success! There's a more Excellent Way!

I want to challenge you to:

■Take your anger to the Gym and loose that dead weight you're carrying in your belly.

■Take your anger to the University and register for your Master's Degree.

■Take your anger to Corporate Affairs Commission (CAC) and register your  first business. PS: I think every thinking Adult should have a registered business even if you're a career employee for life. (You'll thank me someday for this).

■Take your anger to the extra curriculum class. And learn a new Skill-set or competences. Learn something new, even if its "Salsa Dance".

■Take your anger to the Saloon and make yourself look sexier.

■Take your anger to the Embassy and travel to see another country.

■Take your anger to seminars. Enroll in a course. If you don't have money, go to Cousera.com and take a free course. And get a free Certificate from Solid Universities abroad. FREE.

■Take your Anger to your children's school and ask their teacher How their academic Performance can be improved upon.

■Take your anger to your land or uncompleted house, and finish that Project once and for all.

■Take your anger to your dusty bookshelves, pick up a self-help , management or any good book in your field and acquire New Information.

■Take your anger to LinkedIn.com. Sign-up. Complete your profile. Join Groups. Engage with 200million Pros. Participate in Intelligent discussions. Share Information, Ideas and Opportunities. And watch your personal brand equity grow!

The outcome of our lives can sometimes be "empowered" "enhanced" or "driven" by what we do with that (formally negative) emotion called "ANGER"

"Be ANGRY, but Sin not"...Eph.4: 26
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