Yes, I Do 58%
Having annual reviews is an absolute must for a variety of reasons. First, while most of us work in small shops and there is regular communication about performance, it is best to have a formal sit-down (preferably twice a year) to review and set goals. Second, a lot of shops have many long-term employees who often say “I know what my job is and how to do it, and I do it well, so there is no need for a review.” These are the very people who could benefit most from goal-setting and annual reviews. Last, individual and documented annual reviews are the best way to record issues with employees performance and behavior. Steve Nelson, Eye Candy Optical, Westlake, OH
If there is an issue that needs to be addressed, I make a sandwich: what they do great, what they need to improve on, how awesome they are. Michelle Wright, DePoe Eye Center, Sharpsburg, GA
If you don’t put it on the calendar, then sometimes it gets put off to the sidelines until it is too late. Katie McElvaine, Springfield Family Vision, Springfield, MO
I have adopted the self-review. It’s been beneficial for the employee to give feedback to themselves and occasionally answer some tough questions about their duties and performance. We are our harshest critics, after all. The best thing about our self-reviews is that once an employee learns a new skill and practices it for 30 days, they can submit for a pay increase. I am a firm believer in paying more for doing more. Our practice prospers because of this attitude, and it really empowers the employee for growth. Tanya Gill, Oakland Vison Center, Oakland, CA
It’s important the review goes both ways. I discuss what the team member can improve and also what I can do to make life easier for them at the practice. Dan Bristol, Bristol Family Eyecare, Austin, TX
No I Don’t 42%
When I worked retail we did them on a yearly basis. They were very structured and detailed. But that was with a staff of 20-plus, which made it a necessity. Our office is small, and yearly reviews are a waste of time. Rick Rickgauer, Vision Associates, Girard, PA
Annual reviews create a make-it-or-break-it situation while constant gardening creates a cohesive approach to employee improvement. Kevin Bushouse, Rx Optical, Kalamazoo, MI
We touch base with our staff several times a year. It seems better than waiting an entire year to let someone know they are not doing something right. Also, yearly reviews come with the expectation of a raise. Barbara Bloom, Weber Vision Care, Harrisburg, PA
This article originally appeared in the November 2016 edition of INVISION.