Contents -- About This Course -- How to Take This Course -- Pre-Test -- 1 The Performance Appraisal Process: An Overview -- Objectives of the Performance Appraisal Process -- Obstacles to Achieving Performance Objectives -- Lack of Clarity -- Lack of Mutual Respect -- Managerial Resistance to Participating in the Performance Appraisal Process -- A Common Misperception about Performance Appraisals -- Benefits and Uses of Performance Appraisals -- Benefits and Uses for Employees -- Benefits and Uses for Managers -- Benefits and Uses for the Organization -- Elements of an Effective Performance Appraisal System -- Respective Responsibilities -- Human Resources Practitioners -- Managers -- Employees -- Recap -- Review Questions -- 2 Coaching and Counseling -- Coaching -- Coaching Characteristics -- Spontaneous Coaching -- Planned Coaching -- Counseling -- Counseling Characteristics -- Directive Counseling -- Nondirective Counseling -- Managerial Coaching and Counseling Responsibilities and the Performance Appraisal Process -- Apply Effective Communication Skills to Coaching and Counseling -- Verbal Communication Skills -- Written Communication Skills -- Measure the Effectiveness of Communication Skills -- Recap -- Review Questions -- 3 Establishing Standards of Performance -- Legal Parameters of Measuring Performance -- Key Legislation -- At-will Relationship -- Performance Appraisals and Terminations -- Legal and Job-Specific Language -- Methods of Appraisal -- Common Criteria -- Choosing the Most Suitable Appraisal Method -- Self-Evaluation -- Position Descriptions -- Job Requirements -- Duties and Responsibilities -- Disciplinary Action and Documentation -- Progressive Disciplinary Steps -- Performance Appraisal Forms -- Ways in Which Appraisal Forms Are Effectively Used -- Ways in Which Appraisal Forms Are Ineffectively Used -- Rating Terminology.

Recap -- Review Questions -- 4 Preparing for Performance Appraisal Meetings -- Questions Managers Should Ask Themselves -- Asking Employees to Prepare Self-Evaluations -- Culling Information Upon Which the Appraisal will Be Based -- Position Descriptions -- Employee's Work Record -- Mutually Agreed-Upon Performance Objectives -- Input from Others -- Anticipating Possible Employee Reactions -- Agreeable Reaction -- Contrary Reaction -- Nervous Reaction -- Defensive Reaction -- Silent Reaction -- Overconfident Reaction -- Create an Appropriate Setting -- Privacy -- Minimum Number of Distractions -- Comfortable -- Recap -- Review Questions -- 5 The Written Review -- Why Written Performance Appraisals Are Important -- Justify Salary Increases -- Support Changes in Job Status -- Support Disciplinary Action -- Why Managers Dislike Writing Performance Appraisals -- Viewing Written Performance Appraisals as a Useful Tool -- The Importance of Establishing a Format -- A Seven-Step Format -- Writing Guidelines -- Writing Dos -- Writing Don'ts -- Language Selection -- Recap -- Review Questions -- 6 Conducting the Performance Appraisal Meeting -- Effective Interviewing Skills -- Setting the Stage -- Different Types of Interview Questions -- Talking Versus Listening -- Body Language -- Areas to Be Covered -- Past Performance -- Previously Set Performance Objectives -- New Performance Objectives -- Career Development Plans -- Typical Performance Appraisal Meeting Pitfalls -- Conducting Negative Appraisal Meetings -- Conclude the Meeting -- Manager's Checklist -- Recap -- Review Questions -- 7 Special Topics in Performance Appraisal -- Creating and Maintaining a Motivating Atmosphere -- Employee Motivation: An Overview -- Motivational Theories -- Motivational Theories in Relation to Employee Performance -- What Workers Really Want -- Mentoring -- Mentoring Programs.

Mentoring Programs in Relation to Performance Appraisals -- Managerial Feedback -- Performance Appraisals for Remote Employees -- What Is Remote Employment? -- Performance Monitoring -- Building a Relationship with Remote Employees -- Performance Measurement -- Web-Based Performance Appraisals -- Advantages of Web-Based Appraisals -- Disadvantages of Web-Based Appraisals -- Appraisal Software -- Recap -- Review Questions -- Bibliography -- Post-Test -- Index -- A -- B -- C -- D -- E -- F -- G -- I -- K -- L -- M -- N -- O -- P -- R -- S -- T -- V -- W.