All too often, managers and employees alike get that sinking feeling in the pit of their stomachs when it comes to Performance Management. You know the feeling. As an employee, you dread the discussion with your boss. What’s he/she going to say? What do I have to respond to? What tiny detail from nine months ago will he/she spring on me?
From a manager’s perspective, the thought of preparing the document and setting the time and date of the discussion is no less shuddersome. I have no idea what to write! I can’t remember what they did last week, let alone over the last year! What if they take my message the wrong way? What if they get defensive and close down? Or worse, what if they become indignant?