When we were kids, my younger brother had to put up with teachers comparing the two of us throughout his school years. He was a star athlete, I was more of an academic. He didn't like the comparisons and neither did I. Most of all, the comments did nothing to change either of our lives for the better. To this day, he doesn't care much about "A's" and I still can't kick a field goal.
Adults at work hate those kinds of comparisons, too. "When Kris was in your job, she always contacted the sales managers to get the monthly updates. I think that was a better way than how it's being done now." These kinds of remarks don't prompt positive changes or win over employees. When you get the feeling to compare one person's work with another, simply stop and think about one or more of these:
What To Do?
1. Compare performance and behavior against agreed-to goals and expectations
2. Compare performance against the standards set to earn a bonus or reward
3. Compare performance against some desired goal that your employee has expressed
"He has a right to criticize who has a heart to help."
--Abraham Lincoln
i miss my gold fish!
Posted by: freelance writers | April 27, 2011 at 05:50 PM
Dear Freelance: They're doing fine!
Posted by: Steve Roesler | April 27, 2011 at 05:59 PM
I think that was a better way than how it's being done now." These kinds of remarks don't prompt positive changes or win over employees.
Posted by: bike clothes | June 13, 2011 at 11:11 PM
Be honest and act fair and open with your employees as a means to make sure they are kept fully in the loop.
Posted by: Niglon | February 06, 2012 at 06:34 PM