Taking Stock

On Friday, I finished Mid-Year evaluations for the men and women that work for me. How can I refer to it as a mid-year evaluation, you ask, when it's the end of July? Because my company requires that I conduct two formal reviews of my staff each year: a mid-year evaluation and a year-end review.

And this was NOT the year-end one. So by process of elimination, it must be the mid-year.

Anyway, they are done. Everyone knows how I feel about the work they have done so far this year (in this case, ranging from good to exceptional) and they know the things I expect them to focus on for the remainder of 2009 (at least three major items for each person on my team). I take providing feedback for the people who work for me very seriously. When I began as a manager, the idea of evaluating other people made me feel uncomfortable; and, although I have gotten used to the process over time, it is not an activity where I desire to get too comfortable. I think that the process of evaluating another person should not be taken lightly. And so I do my best to be thoughtful, to be even-handed, and (above all) to be honest.

A few months ago, I wrote a post that concluded with my expectations concerning the busy spring and summer on the horizon at my job. Last week, the project which was the focus of that effort was completed. My team and I are all still intact - so it seems things transpired much as I had envisioned.

I'm glad that's over. We all are. Hopefully, the rest of the year will provide room to take care of things that did not receive our full attention during the heat of battle.

I never expect things to be slow at the office. I'd settle for manageable. And I hope that your work life is going well.

Take care.