4 Tips for Recognizing Strong Performers During Appraisals

Identify and celebrate their successes, highlight specific examples of their achievements, ensure that strong performers do not stagnate and prompt them to reflect on how they can improve on themselves within the context of their strengths are 4 tips to recognize strong performers during appraisals.

1. Identify and celebrate their successes. Thank them for their contributions and let them know that you appreciate the hard work done for the year.

2. Highlight specific examples of their achievements such as “You are an asset because you coordinated your team to meet deadlines and worked efficiently” or “You work with customers very well. You are good at dealing with angry customers in a calm and rational manner”. When you pinpoint the exact behaviours that were positive, you motivate and spur them on to greater success. 

3. Ensure that strong performers do not stagnate by assigning special tasks that allows them to take on extra responsibility that will leverage on their skills. 

4. Star performers are not perfect. Prompt them to reflect on how they can improve on themselves within the context of their strengths. Let them take the lead which will push them to have ownership for their progress. For instance, asking questions such as “How might you do things differently in the future?” could explore alternative approaches to the same situation faced.