Star light, star bright, won’t someone tell me my work’s all right?

Questions the real purpose of performance appraisal and describes how it is best achieved. Notes that criticism breeds defensiveness but performance feedback can be done without criticism. Discusses effective performance evaluation and the use of self‐evaluation. Concludes that performance appraisals should be a series of steps to ensure expectations are clear and as an opportunity to cement the working relationship between employee and manager.