From last week:
Is it appropriate for a Manager-Once-Removed to conduct performance appraisals, or should the direct Manager do this review?
We had this insightful comment posted by Gary Markle, author of Catalytic Coaching.
Tom…
This is a trick question. The real answer is that it is not appropriate for either manager to give the once-removed employee a performance evaluation because the ritual is tired and ineffective performed by anyone. It’s like asking who should spank the child, the parent or grandparent? How about neither? They should substitute coaching, more specifically Catalytic Coaching.
Cheers, Gary
Indeed, my response was “if the conversation is about Performance (shorter Time Span goals), it should be conducted by the direct Manager.”
I have never been a fan of traditional performance reviews. In some cases they are a waste of time, in most cases they can be destructive. That said, conversations about performance are important for a number of reasons.
- Quality standards (product or service)
- Safety standards
- Efficiency, consistency and predictability of performance
- Competence
- New skills, growth and direction
These conversations are so important that they should be held on a daily, weekly and monthly basis. Catalytic coaching describes an effective process to do just that.
For those of you tracking our Working Leadership program, you will note on the schedule below, we have three sessions on coaching (a critical managerial role) beginning July 6, 2009. You can now register for a single session, a group of three sessions or an annual subscription.
Apr 27 – Control Systems and Feedback Loops
May 18 – Managing Time – Managing Yourself
Jun 8 – Team Problem Solving – Power of Team
Jun 29 – Summer Break
Jul 6 – Coaching – Two Powerful Models
Jul 27 – Coaching – Underperformance and Misbehavior
Aug 17 – Coaching – People to Their Maximum Level
Sep 7 – Fall Break
Sep 14 – Managerial Authorities – Managerial Accountability
Oct 5 – Employee Entitlement – Yes, there is one.
Oct 26 – Performance Effectiveness Appraisal
Nov 23 – Break (Thanksgiving – USA)
Nov 30 – Bringing Out the Best in People
Dec 21 – Jan 10, 2010 – Winter Break