T a s d I q L a y m a n

Cautious or risk-taking?
Some cultures, especially those with a long history such as Greece and Portugal, 
are quite cautious. They often have religious backgrounds and resist new ideas. At 
work, people prefer to follow strict rules and do things as they always have been done. 
Other cultures, like Jamaica and Singapore, often have a younger history and are 
willing to take risks. They are more open to new ideas, and are more accepting of 
change.
THE END OF THE ANNUAL PERFORMANCE REVIEW?
If your company conducts annual appraisals, the following procedure might 
sound familiar: You receive an email from your boss inviting you to an appraisal with 
a form attached. You fill a series of tick boxes, rate objectives on a scale, and express 
your views on certain issues. Then you have your meeting, agree your objectives for 
the coming year, and plan to meet again in another 12 months’ time.

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That’s the standard annual performance review for many companies and it gets 
a mixed response from employees. In one survey o f2,900 workers, 29% thought annual 
appraisals were a waste of time and 21 
%
even described them as ‘unfair’. Many more 
were positive about the experience, but felt that receiving constructive feedback on a 
more regular basis would be more beneficial.
It’s this kind of viewpoint which has led to some businesses moving away from 
the once-a-year format towards a ‘give feedback anytime’ approach. General Electric, 
for example, which employs around 300,000 people worldwide, has an app which 
allows employees to read regularly updated feedback on their phone. It allows 
managers to address any immediate concerns and it gives employees the opportunity 
to raise any issues or respond to criticism.
But if you already dread the approach of your annual performance review, then 
isn’t the prospect of your performance being monitored twenty-four seven even worse? 
Supporters of a more fluid approach to appraisals don’t think so. The software company 
Adobe offers employees frequent face-to-face ‘check-ins’ with their managers where 
they can discuss their current role and plan their future careers. Since implementing 
this system, there has been a 30% drop in employees leaving the company. So perhaps 
rather than waiting a whole year to find out if something can be improved, more regular 
updates mean employees can learn from any mistakes can learn from any mistakes 
immediately.