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Tips for writing accurate and effective performance evaluations.

By Theresa Van Driessche posted 09-08-2014 13:22

  

 

Tips for writing accurate and effective performance evaluations.

 

Performance evaluations are essential when training and assessing public safety employees.

 

When used properly, evaluations are an objective record of behavior and acquired skills.

 

Comments must be objective. Subjective comments are opinions and have no place on evaluations.

 

Facts will speak for themselves so there is no need to draw conclusions in your documentation.

 

Documentation must focus on facts relating to the employee's behavior and performance rather than on the person.

 

Employees cannot be compared to one another.

 

Comparisons should be made to behavioral standards that exist for all employees.

 

Documentation provides accurate and objective feedback to employees, as well as a permanent record of activities, behavior and performance.

 

Narratives should include specific data like dates, times and event numbers.

 

Documentation should be written clearly and concisely.

 

Use simple language that is easy to understand.

 

Be sure that the narratives convey only one idea at a time, and that statements can be interpreted

only one way.

 

Situations should be described in chronological order.


 

 

The following examples are provided to illustrate the differences between objective and subjective documentation.

 

Objective comments include facts and details, draw no conclusions, and do not have

opinions.

 

Correct (Objective)

 

6/5 Lou accepts feedback with interest and enthusiasm

 

Annie served on the EMD policy review committee from June through August

 

8/22 Vince attempted to enter 10 calls for service on CAD, and was able to enter one without trainer assistance

 

2/12 Karen entered incident 67554 with wrong address (used North Adams instead of South Adams), officers were responding to the wrong bank for the holdup alarm, trainer corrected address

 

3/19 Conrad entered incident 894378 with wrong address (used South Harbor Point instead of South Harbor Oaks), officers were responding to the wrong store for the holdup alarm, supervisor corrected address

 

9/19 Yoko maintained contact with the suspect for 30 minutes while the TAC team assembled, incident 646876

 

 

Subjective comments are those which cannot be verified, are opinions or have no frame

of reference.

 

Incorrect (Subjective)

 

Bill’s understanding of the phone system is much better

 

Lisa will improve after she works on 9-1-1 some more

 

I am looking forward to Kim’s progress soon

 

7/2 With more use of the EMD software, Phyllis will increase her skills

 

Althea has shown some improvement already and I know it will be better

in the next week

 

6/16 Wade’s understanding of the leave policy is better than yesterday

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