The Recency Effect

Never fall into the trap of basing a performance evaluation only on a subordinate’s most recent performance – known as the Recency Effect. Most people know when they are due for performance evaluations and go above and beyond as they approach their due date. They may volunteer for extra hours or be uncharacteristically upbeat and positive. The sharp ones even bring unexpected doughnuts or treats for the boss.

The best plan is to keep notes all year long. Depending on your position, this may mean carrying around a notebook or it may mean keeping notes in a spreadsheet on your computer.

But having something to review when evaluation time rolls around can keep a manager from being seduced by a savvy employee. Whatever you do, make sure these notes are kept strictly confidential. Legal matters can quickly spiral out of control if a manager’s notes on specific employees are made public.  

Evaluating Favorites

Also beware the trap of giving great evaluations to your favorites. It is natural to get along well with some people more than others. Some people just click. But you have to leave emotions behind when performing a subordinate’s evaluation.

It isn’t fair to them to give them excessively positive or negative feedback. Think critically about their roll in the organization and what they do well, and in what areas they can improve.  

Don’t Go Easy On Them

Many green managers find it easier to give positive evaluations and avoid the tough confrontation. This does seem easier at first… but it will come back to haunt you. Eventually you’ll want to let one of these poor performers go and your own evaluations will work against you.

Whether it is due to a poor business environment or just a bad apple in the bunch, under-performers eventually become too much of a problem for any organization to carry. And getting stuck with one of these people can put a black mark on your own record for years to come.

Most organizations invest little in training their managers, and months – or years – could be lost while they learn the basics of management.

It occurred to me that if they got help early on from someone who has already struggled with the difficulties of management, they could short-cut the process and get ahead of the curve. They could become more effective – more quickly.

Who Is This Site For?

Whether you are in a business management program in college, or a new manager fresh out of school, or perhaps have been promoted to management later in life – this site is for you. I’ve seen for myself that all the college classes and textbooks in the world cannot prepare anyone for the shock of real management.

While I am a big believer in learning from books – and I’ll recommend the ones that I think are actually useful… there is nothing like real experience! Only through study and real work can true leadership emerge.

For all the rookies out there who are smart enough to search for help online rather than trying to figure everything out alone, this can be a great resource.

It doesn’t matter if you have 1 person under you or 100. The challenges of management are the same for everyone. The scope of the challenge is all that changes. If you can learn to lead small groups, you will have the skills needed to tackle larger groups.

Main Topics for Managers

Depending on the size of your company, you may be called on to perform any number of duties. Larger companies have various levels and areas of management to assist and support you in your learning, and you’ll be able to lean on them for advice. 

Often in smaller organizations, a manager is responsible for accomplishing daily goals as well as HR (human resources) issues, legal issues, payroll, etc. You may be called on for any combination of management skills. Thus, you must be knowledgeable in all areas – and we’ll help you get there.

Of course, we’re no substitute for true legal or HR advice, but some helpful tips can certainly help keep you from getting into trouble and save you a lot of grief.

What’s On The Agenda?

I will regularly be adding content to the site to cover all aspects of management. I’ve recently added a Feedback page for you to contact me with questions or comments. In addition, I will add a forum where all visitors can participate in answering questions. Management rarely has a single correct answer and the more knowledge we can share, the better off we’ll all be.