Rating traps to avoid

Ratings on anything other than output can feel subjective and unfair. It can cause conflict and demotivation if not delivered well. This is the opposite of what you want, since the objective is to improve and recognise performance. 

We are only human and it is easy to stumble into the 4 common traps leaders experience when rating their team.  

1. Personality over performance. We often rate people we like or who are like us higher than those who are different or we don’t like as much.  
   
   
2. The halo effect – We remember the most recent events and then assess performance over the year based on that one event rather than taking the whole year into consideration.  
   
   
3. Optimism/pessimism: How you view the world can alter your view/blur your vision about reality. You can overcome this by asking others for their views or comments.  
   
   
4. Prejudice or grudges: Don’t rate people in anger or when you have a grudge against this. You are only human and it will cloud your judgement. You need to make sure you are being fair to your team and giving them the same opportunities. Put your own emotions aside.