Use 'More of' and 'Less of' in Your Evaluations

Published: Apr 26, 2004

Application

We don't like criticism. We dread evaluation meetings. We tend to defer these review sessions as long as possible.

An effective soft approach is to offer suggestions with the prefix of, "I would like to see more of (specific action.)"

The procedure for a one-on-one evaluation meeting can go something like this.

Round 1

Employee - goes first: "I would like to see more of ...."
Superior takes notes and asks for any clarification. Details, plans and resolutions can be discussed later.
Then, Superior says, "I would like to see more of ...."
Alternating "more of" statements continue until topics are exhausted or a pre-arranged limit is reached.

Round 2

Employee says, "I would like to see less of ...."
Superior says, "I would like to see less of ...."
This round continues as before.

Round 3

The details, plans and resolutions can be discussed if the conversation is now relaxed, open and free of tension.

Frequent evaluation sessions allow for shorter agendas. Meetings are not deferred because people look forward to this non-threatening clearing of the air.

Stories

For 20 years you said nothing

I first saw this technique demonstrated at a Transactional Analysis workshop in Washington, D.C.

A Dean and his Chairperson volunteered to do the exercise. At the end of the mini-session the Dean expressed surprise at something the Chairperson wanted "less of." The Dean said to his long time colleague and friend, "We've worked closely together for 20 years and you've never mentioned this before." The Chairperson replied, "I've thought of this since our first year together and never had the chance to mention it before now."

These two were leaders of a Human Relations department of a university in Virginia. A case of the cobbler with no shoes.

Submitted by: NephewGerry

Outcomes

Put an end to those dreaded phoney evaluations.
More frequent chats about working arrangements.

Use 'More of' and 'Less of' in Your Evaluations

Application

Stories

For 20 years you said nothing

Outcomes

Related Topics

Related HRM Books