Chapter 18. The Top Ten Words to Include in a Performance Appraisal
One of the most effective ways to enhance the impact of the appraisals you provide is to select words that have a strong positive emotional charge. You may think that as long as you somehow get your message across, your word choice isn't all that important. After all, the message is what counts, right? The truth is, some words hit home far more quickly and compellingly than others.
In this chapter, I fill you in on ten positively charged words that pack a punch. By including them in your feedback, you greatly increase the likelihood that your comments will actually be heard and that your employees' performance will actually improve.
The Employee's Name
A person's name is one of the most powerfully charged words that she knows. If it wasn't the first word she ever heard, it's certainly among the very earliest.
When someone hears her own name, she reacts. She may turn, jump, flinch, or smile, but regardless of the specific action, she's not likely to ignore it, nor is she likely to ignore what happens after her name is called. By saying your employee's name before providing her with feedback, you're improving her readiness to listen carefully to your next words — and to act on them.
Achievement
Numerous studies have found the word achievement ...
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