Nobody enjoys performance reviews.
Not you nor your direct reports.
But here's the real issue. In study after study, researchers have confirmed that performance reviews do not improve performance.
They do not improve performance! What?
In fact, they often make it worse. The research has found that the judgmental nature of performance reviews stops us from being receptive to critical feedback. To protect ourselves, our brain "reduces our commitment to the organisation". In other words, we stop trying. We stop caring.
And yet so many organisations persist with performance reviews. Why? And what can we do instead?
Start doing progress reviews
In my old consulting firm, we did away with Performance Reviews altogether. Instead, we developed our own process. We called them Progress Reviews.
What's with the minor word change? A lot.
A performance review asks: How did you perform against your pre-determined goals? It's an inquisition.
A progress review asks: What do you need so you can do your best work? It's an inquiry.
One is based on judgment; the other on curiosity. One creates resentment; the other creates momentum.
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