Comments on: It Ain’t a Performance Review If You Have to Memorize Phrases http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/ Know More HR. Thu, 18 Mar 2010 16:52:51 -0400 http://wordpress.org/?v=2.8.6 hourly 1 By: Robert Bacal http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-131797 Robert Bacal Tue, 02 Mar 2010 04:39:26 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-131797 Just popping in again and a bit disappointed nobody has engaged me here, since I wrote the damned thing. What is really scary, I mean really really scary is how many copies this book, and books like it have sold. This particular book made the BusinessWeek best seller list one month. I don't want to give out exact numbers, but I'll offer an estimate that all of these ready to use phrase type books taken together have sold over one MILLION copies. That's probably more than any other niche type of book. Also noted the comments about the software. Guess what? One prominent performance review software company wanted to license the content of this book. The real question here (well, there's a bunch) is why do so many people want this stuff? Doug and I have no answers that aren't insulting to the purchasers of our book. GO figure. Just popping in again and a bit disappointed nobody has engaged me here, since I wrote the damned thing. What is really scary, I mean really really scary is how many copies this book, and books like it have sold. This particular book made the BusinessWeek best seller list one month.

I don’t want to give out exact numbers, but I’ll offer an estimate that all of these ready to use phrase type books taken together have sold over one MILLION copies. That’s probably more than any other niche type of book.

Also noted the comments about the software. Guess what? One prominent performance review software company wanted to license the content of this book.

The real question here (well, there’s a bunch) is why do so many people want this stuff?

Doug and I have no answers that aren’t insulting to the purchasers of our book. GO figure.

]]> By: How DARE He Pan My Perfect Phrases Book! | The Happy Curmudgeon http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-130751 How DARE He Pan My Perfect Phrases Book! | The Happy Curmudgeon Wed, 17 Feb 2010 22:03:07 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-130751 [...] It Ain’t a Performance Review If You Have to Memorize Phrases [...] [...] It Ain’t a Performance Review If You Have to Memorize Phrases [...]

]]> By: Robert Bacal http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-130745 Robert Bacal Wed, 17 Feb 2010 20:11:10 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-130745 Actually, I'm one of the authors of this book, and I can tell you that both Doug Max and myself probably agree with almost everything said here. I'm a bit tight for time right now, but I'd be glad to discuss this here, or preferably on my own blog actually (my preference) at http://thetrainingworld.com/wp/ Actually, I’m one of the authors of this book, and I can tell you that both Doug Max and myself probably agree with almost everything said here. I’m a bit tight for time right now, but I’d be glad to discuss this here, or preferably on my own blog actually (my preference) at http://thetrainingworld.com/wp/

]]> By: HRM Today - Blog Archive » Stock phrases for performance review? http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-76832 HRM Today - Blog Archive » Stock phrases for performance review? Wed, 15 Apr 2009 03:18:23 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-76832 [...] new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on HR topics.A good blog post at KnowHR recently on performance reviews, which hgihlighted a recent publication offering a whole series of [...] [...] new here, you might want to subscribe to the RSS feed for updates on HR topics.A good blog post at KnowHR recently on performance reviews, which hgihlighted a recent publication offering a whole series of [...]

]]> By: Mike L http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-73049 Mike L Tue, 07 Apr 2009 19:52:18 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-73049 OK, Frank. I'll play Devil's Advocate. I understand that using a book of stock phrases is impersonal and can give someone who should know better an easy out in creating a review. But a couple points here. First, there are a great number of managers who don't know anything about management. They know something about their domain and have now been thrust into a management or supervisory role with little to no training. Not ideal, certainly, but we live in the real world and it happens. So, is it that terrible if there's a tool that helps these folks create reviews in some sort of standard way? To Paul's point, "Need help telling someone how special they are... " last I checked Hallmark did a good business at that. Why? How many of us write our own anniversary cards? Should we be chastised for that? Probably. Though we don't write our thoughts as well as the Hallmark guys, some original, heartfelt stuff would probably be better. But we go out and buy the anniversary and birthday cards anyway, because somebody that makes it their job to be good at writing these things has already done all the hard work and makes our life easier. We have a lot of choices and pick the one that suits our situation. I see the danger in railing against automation in performance reviews is perhaps we let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Canned phrases may be laughable to HR, but most managers aren't in HR and need some help. Thanks for the thought-provoking piece. OK, Frank. I’ll play Devil’s Advocate. I understand that using a book of stock phrases is impersonal and can give someone who should know better an easy out in creating a review. But a couple points here. First, there are a great number of managers who don’t know anything about management. They know something about their domain and have now been thrust into a management or supervisory role with little to no training. Not ideal, certainly, but we live in the real world and it happens.

So, is it that terrible if there’s a tool that helps these folks create reviews in some sort of standard way?

To Paul’s point, “Need help telling someone how special they are… ” last I checked Hallmark did a good business at that. Why? How many of us write our own anniversary cards? Should we be chastised for that? Probably. Though we don’t write our thoughts as well as the Hallmark guys, some original, heartfelt stuff would probably be better. But we go out and buy the anniversary and birthday cards anyway, because somebody that makes it their job to be good at writing these things has already done all the hard work and makes our life easier. We have a lot of choices and pick the one that suits our situation.

I see the danger in railing against automation in performance reviews is perhaps we let the perfect be the enemy of the good. Canned phrases may be laughable to HR, but most managers aren’t in HR and need some help.

Thanks for the thought-provoking piece.

]]> By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-72303 Frank Roche Sun, 05 Apr 2009 16:22:36 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-72303 @KD...LOL, it is from Talladega Nights. That part just cracked me up. Thanks about this..the passionate ones seem dangerous...and right. @KD…LOL, it is from Talladega Nights. That part just cracked me up. Thanks about this..the passionate ones seem dangerous…and right.

]]> By: KD http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-72300 KD Sun, 05 Apr 2009 15:18:07 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-72300 Frank - I'm late to the game on this one - nice work - going to do a post featuring this during the week. Is the baby jesus thing a reference to the scene in Talladega Nights? I hope so... You're on fire recently, keep up the good work... KD Frank –

I’m late to the game on this one – nice work – going to do a post featuring this during the week.

Is the baby jesus thing a reference to the scene in Talladega Nights? I hope so…

You’re on fire recently, keep up the good work…

KD

]]> By: Frank Roche http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-72157 Frank Roche Sat, 04 Apr 2009 23:24:20 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-72157 @Rick, that is funny stuff. I bet there are a bunch of people wondering if their performance reviews came from that book. Nuts. @Andy, thanks very much for coming by and adding KnowHR to your reading list. I really appreciate it. Crazy about this performance review approach, huh? @Dan, I think 100 Perfect Self Appraisals sounds like a real winner! @Rick, that is funny stuff. I bet there are a bunch of people wondering if their performance reviews came from that book. Nuts.

@Andy, thanks very much for coming by and adding KnowHR to your reading list. I really appreciate it. Crazy about this performance review approach, huh?

@Dan, I think 100 Perfect Self Appraisals sounds like a real winner!

]]> By: andy http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-72145 andy Sat, 04 Apr 2009 22:48:20 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-72145 Frank, I'm new to your blog in the last week or so but have added to my daily feed. I can't tell you how mad it makes me that a book like this exists!! And we wonder why the US is losing ground economically...b/c honest, authentic and data based feedback has been thrown out the window!! keep up the good work Frank, I’m new to your blog in the last week or so but have added to my daily feed. I can’t tell you how mad it makes me that a book like this exists!! And we wonder why the US is losing ground economically…b/c honest, authentic and data based feedback has been thrown out the window!!

keep up the good work

]]> By: rick http://www.knowhr.com/blog/2009/04/01/it-aint-a-performance-review-if-you-have-to-memorize-phrases/comment-page-1/#comment-71810 rick Fri, 03 Apr 2009 19:24:18 +0000 http://www.knowhr.com/blog/?p=1629#comment-71810 I think you hit a nerve. I am guessing that some of these perfect phrases strung together in random order would still provide a more accurate, meaningful and personal review I have some I have had over the years. I think you hit a nerve.

I am guessing that some of these perfect phrases strung together in random order would still provide a more accurate, meaningful and personal review I have some I have had over the years.

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