Page 55 - Perfect Phrases for Motivating and Rewarding

■ “Don’t be afraid to toot your own horn.”
■ “Salary increases are/are not directly tied to performance
review ratings.”
■ “Think about steps you’ll want to take for your personal
improvement plan. Are there courses you might want to
attend or projects that will help you stretch your skills?”
■ “Look back at your previous review so you are aware of
improvements you’ve made and ways you’ve met your goals.”
■ “Think about ways you’ve exceeded the expectations we set
last time.”
■ “Be prepared to tell me how organizational policies, senior
management, or I have either helped you attain your goals or
gotten in your way. We want to ensure that we’re doing our
best to support you.”

The Performance Review Meeting

The Motivational Mindset
■ By the time you and the employee sit down for “the talk,”
there should be no surprises. This meeting should be part of
an ongoing dialogue in a workplace with clear communication
and feedback; the employee should have a fairly good sense of
what issues will arise.
■ Do not allow interruptions. Your employee is counting on your
feedback and undivided attention.
■ Focus on specific behaviors rather than generalizations.
Descriptive words and phrases such as exceptional, nice job,
and needs improvement are fine for summing up but do not tell
the story. Identify specific actions and give details.
■ Do not paraphrase general statements on the form. Use
specific examples.

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