Competition for excellent team members is as heated as I’ve ever seen it! I hear that from clients and colleagues nearly every day. It caused me to think – just how do we express our appreciation for them this holiday season? Here’s an idea – forget the Kroger’s gift card and company logo outerwear. OK don’t forget them, they are appreciated, but think EMPLOYEE EVALUATIONS!

We keep telling ourselves that people are our most important asset (how many times have you heard that) yet when it comes time for a critical interaction with them we avoid preparing for it in any meaningful fashion. Communication during the annual review process should come in several steps and several meetings. A pre-meeting with employees to outline the process, a self-evaluation presentation by the employee to their manager, a meeting where the formal review is discussed (emphasis on discussed, not given), and a final BRIEF meeting to communicate compensation adjustment and bonus compensation.

Sounds like a lot of time – IT IS!

Would we commit to staying informed about the performance of one of our very good customers?

Would we meet with the same customer several times at the end of the year to ensure the relationship remained positive?

Would we do our homework before proposing any changes to the financial parameters of this same relationship?