Performance without Appraisal Part I

Stuff that’s easy to count usually doesn’t count–like lines of code, bugs found, seconds spent on a call, etc.

Observed behavior is unreliable in determining contribution. The guy who talks a lot may be adding value to the conversation…or not. The person who sits quietly, apparently staring into space, may be coming up with an important idea. The person who isn’t strong technically may contribute to the team in essential ways that aren’t easily understood by someone outside the team.

You can’t tell who is “working hard” by looking.

Performance without Appraisal Part I