Care enough to evaluate

As leaders evaluating performance is an integral part of our role.  Communicating what specifically is of value and what could be done to enhance performance requires some skill.  The CARE model is a simple and effective way of ensuring that you evaluate in a positive and upbuilding way.

1. Commend:

Whether it is a speech, a project, a meeting- its useful to find something specific to commend.  What in your view has been of particular value?  What has been done particularly well?

2. Appreciate:

Verbalise your appreciation of some aspect of the person's performance, character or attitude. We all need to feel appreciated.  Research shows that people don't leave jobs they leave managers and for many the common reason for leaving is that they feel unappreciated.  Giving genuine and appropriate work based recognition is a valuable way of demonstrating appreciation.

3. Recommend:

Specifically indicate what could be done that would quantifiably improve the person's performance.

4. Encourage:

We all need to feel encouraged which literally means to "give courage"- it can be difficult to receive recommendations for improvements, especially as it often triggers negative self talk anchored in our experience by limiting beliefs.  We can "give courage" in a number of ways but essentially they all involve giving an individual hope for the future and communicating confidence in a person's ability to grow, develop and change.

So, next time you need to evaluate an aspect of a person's performance, take CARE and you may actually find the whole process to be more motivating than you could have ever thought possible!