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Rethinking Performance Evaluations: Focusing on the Future

Some ramble on performance evaluations! Have you ever noticed that performance evaluation season is now often referred to as “calibration”? This terminology strikes me as odd. Calibration typically pertains to machines or instruments, not to the evaluation of human performance. While public accounting may never get performance evaluations down to a perfect science, the term “calibration” seems out of place.

However, I’m not here to debate terminology. Instead, I want to share an important tip about performance evaluations—one of my favorites.

The Problem with Traditional Performance Evaluations

Accountants often struggle with having difficult conversations around performance. These conversations are perceived as difficult because they typically focus on past mistakes. Spending 30 minutes discussing how someone screwed up a client relationship, an engagement, or a report isn’t enjoyable for either party. When we focus solely on past performance, the conversation becomes unproductive, filled with defensiveness and emotion.

A Better Approach: Focus on the Future

I used to assist in coaching baseball for about a decade. When a child missed a pop fly or a grounder, the team would sometimes get down on them, which would crush their spirit. Instead, we taught the kids to focus on the future by encouraging them to “get the next one.” This shifted the focus to a future with possibilities.

Feed Forward: Creating a Better Future

Marshall Goldsmith calls this approach “feed forward.” Instead of dwelling on past mistakes, we should talk about the future. When discussing performance with your team, focus on what they can do differently next time. Ask questions like:

• What can you do differently the next time you prepare a report?
• How can you better serve a client in the future?
• What’s one area you can improve on in your next project?

By focusing on the future, you create a performance evaluation that is constructive and forward-looking. This approach not only sets clear expectations but also opens opportunities for better performance.

Conclusion

In your next performance evaluation, shift the focus from what went wrong in the past to what can be improved in the future. Create a vision of a better future for your team members, where they can perform at the level you expect. This is how you truly “calibrate” performance—by setting the stage for future success.

Thanks for reading. Now go out there and get the next one!

Doug, The CPA Coach