What those performance review phrases actually mean
For many of us, January is performance evaluation time. Whether you’re writing one for your employees or will soon be the recipient of one from your boss, we can all use help understanding the “HR speak” so prevalent in these documents.
What follows is a sampling of phrases from performance reviews, along with their possible translations. How many of these have you seen . . . or used?
Phrase: Does not understand the importance of corporate attendance policies.
Translation: You’re late every day.
Phrase: Demonstrates an entitlement mentality.
Translation: You think it’s okay that you’re late every day.
Phrase: Is too focused on changing established procedures.
Translation: You try to convince others that it’s okay to be late every day.
Phrase: Cindy uses her position to dominate and intimidate others.
Translation: People are afraid of you, Cindy.
Phrase: Jan remains unwilling to carry out tasks that are “below” her.
Translation: You need to learn how to use the Intranet.
Phrase: Greg has not performed well in creating an honest and open environment for the employees he supervises.
Translation: Your employees purposefully avoid talking to you.
Phrase: Peter lacks credibility in his messaging.
Translation: No one believes anything you say.
Phrase: Bobby exhibits a domineering work style.
Translation: You’re an insufferable jerk and people don’t like you.
Phrase: Bobby does not demonstrate concern for what others think of him or how well he works with others.
Translation: Because you’re an insufferable jerk, you don’t care that people don’t like you.
Phrase: Marcia is very loyal and affable, but not very dependable. She does not produce much substantive work.
Translation: Marcia . . . you’re a suck-up.
Phrase: Cindy consistently takes a practical, hard-nosed approach to things without thinking how she could creatively solve a problem.
Translation: Try something new for once, Cindy.
Phrase: Often lets anger, frustration, and anxiety show.
Translation: You yelled at Peter that time. And those other times.
Phrase: Greg does not consistently avail himself of existing technology.
Translation: You need to start using the Intranet.
Phrase: Marcia spends an excessive amount of time engaged in conversations that are not work related.
Translation: Stop gossiping and get back to work.
Phrase: Jan lacks basic skills in business writing.
Translation: You can’t write your way out of a paper bag.
Readers, any other phrases you’d care to share?
This post was first published on Ragan Communication’s PR Daily.
