Employee evaluations. They’re easily in the top three of the most dreaded meetings at every corporation, quite possibly just behind that meeting announcing your termination. Yeah, they’re that bad, according to surveys about these performance appraisals.

Even worse, both employees and managers find them ineffective. Here’s the breakdown according to a survey: 58 percent of managers reported that performance appraisals weren’t an effective use of their time; 42 percent of HR officials didn’t think annual reviews provided an accurate appraisal of employees’ performance; and 44 percent of employees didn’t think their bosses gave honest feedback.

While employee evaluations won’t necessarily be elevated to the No. 1 thing managers and employees look forward to, you can make them effective in accomplishing the objective they were designed for: improving performance and generating overall positive gains throughout the company.

Here are several tips to consider when reinventing your employee evaluations:

1. Scrap the annual ritual. Waiting around for an entire year — or even six months — to give employees feedback can make the process of employee evaluations less effective. If you’re waiting that long to let employees know how they’re doing, you’re not giving them enough time to improve. Make the process of employee feedback ongoing and natural.

2. Train the evaluators. Avoid the perception that some managers are ill-equipped or unprepared when conducting performance evaluations. According to one survey published in Psychology Today, one out of 5 employees believed their managers had not given a thought to the evaluations until they walked into the room. Set expectations for the evaluators and evaluate their process for conducting appraisals.

3. Invite feedback. Get employee input on the process. For employees to embrace performance appraisals, they should feel that their opinions are helping to shape how they are evaluated. If necessary to solicit candid feedback, keep the process anonymous.

As you develop a more effective employee evaluation process, research technological tools to keep the process smooth and effective. Standard for Success offers an employee evaluation solution that helps managers quickly review and update employees’ progress. Learn more. Contact us to request a demo.