In praise of appraisals

The annual appraisal is an event in our working calendars that is rarely welcomed with open arms – by the appraiser or the appraisee. These 12-monthly meetings can feel stilted and formulaic but are considered a necessary evil that interrupts the day-to-day workings of many an organisation.

The process of feedback, discussion and consolidation in a measured and balanced way is the very foundation of good practice. A well-designed appraisal should aim to motivate and inspire staff – and clear up any administrative or personnel hurdles that stand in our way, or threaten the smooth running of a dental working environment.

A study by psychologists at Rice University in the US recently dismissed the annual performance reviews as an ineffective tool to gather information about talent. Instead, it suggested a more informal and continuous approach that would ‘create real-time alterations in employees' job performance behaviours than are infrequent or annual formal feedback sessions’.