A performance appraisal is a structured review of how well an employee has done their job over a period, usually against goals and expected behaviours, ending in a rating, feedback and a development plan.
Traditional appraisals happen once a year, but the trend is towards more frequent, lighter-touch check-ins so feedback is timely rather than a retrospective. The best appraisals combine what was achieved (goals, results) with how it was achieved (behaviours, competencies).
Appraisals work best when they are consistent across the organisation, based on evidence rather than recency or gut feel, and connected to real development — not just a score that determines a pay rise.
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Hubb People — appraisals