Unit 14

Word

Definition

Example

address concerns

to respond to someone's issues or worries

It allows managers to address any immediate concerns

agree objectives

an agreement concerning the goals to be achieved by the employee

In the meeting, you agree your objectives for the coming year

appraisal

a meeting between a manager and a worker to discuss the quality of someone's work and how well they do their job

We've moved on from top-down staff appraisals

carry on

to continue doing something

I would have told him to carry on speaking his mind

certainly

without any doubt

You certainly need to focus on gaining some more qualifications

come over

if someone comes over in a particular way, they seem to have particular qualities

He came over as domineering and forceful

complaint

a statement in which someone complains about something

I've received a complaint about you

conduct annual appraisals

to do a regular review of an employee's job performanceand overall contribution to a company

Does your company conduct annual appraisals?

constraint

something that limits your freedom to do what you want

Were there any constraints that affected your performance?

could do with

to need or want something

We could do with some training on the new program

criteria

standards that you use to judge something or make a decision about something

We ask them to comment on various different assessment criteria

delicate

needing to be dealt with carefully or sensitively in order to avoid problems or failure

This is rather delicate, but I have to mention your punctuality

easy for somebody

not difficult to do, and not needing much effort

I realize it isn't easy for you to hear this

end up with

to be in a particular situation, state, or place after a series of events, especially when you did not plan it

You end up with a more complete picture of performance

express views

t share your opinion

You'll be able to express your views on certain issues

feedback

advice, criticism etc about how successful or useful something is

Feedback from the markets has been generally positive

go through

to experience a difficult or unpleasantsituation, feeling etc

Counselling is available when you go through the feedback results

goal

something that you hope to achieve in the future

Let's put that down on your list of goals

hand out

to give something to each person in a group

We hand out a feedback form to everyone you come into contact with

improve on

to do something better than before or make something better than before

Are there any areas you feel you need to improve on?

judgement

an opinion that you form, especially after thinking carefully about something

We use a feedback form, with a value judgement system

justify

to give an acceptable explanation for something that other people think is unreasonable

You will have to justify your decision to the rest of the team

manage

to succeed in doing something difficult, especially after trying very hard

You've managed to transform the performance of your team

monitor performance

a process wherein the supervisor ensures that the employee is progressing towards the goals and objectives established during goal setting

Would you want your performance to be monitored all the time?

move on

to leave your present job, class, or activity and start doing another one

We've moved on from the difficulties of last year

must say

used to emphasize what you are saying

I must say we're very happy with your overall performance

note

something that you write down to remind you of something

On a less positive note, the project went over budget overall

performance management

an ongoing process of communication between a supervisor and an employee that occurs throughout the year, in support of accomplishing the strategic objectives of the organization

We use it as part of our overall performance management

personal goal

something that you hope to achieve in the future

Can I identify that as a personal goal for the coming year?

raise issues

ask questions that worry you

It gives employees the opportunity to raise any issues

rate objectives on a scale

to decide what objective is more important

You fill in a series of tick boxes and rate objectives on a scale

rating

a level on a scale that shows how good, important, popular etc someone or something is

With this kind of peer rating, you get a more complete picture

receive constructive feedback

to receive good advice, criticism etc about how successful or useful something is

Receiving constructive feedback on a regular basis is beneficial

respond to criticism

to react to remarks that say what you think is bad about someone or something

How will you respond to the criticism?

shift rota

is short for a 'rotating shift schedule'. That means that the schedule is the same every umpteenth week (or day for that matter)

They undertake a range of administrative duties including working on the shift rota

side of the story

If someone tells you their side of the story, they tell you why they behaved in a particular way and why they think they were right, when other people think that person behaved wrongly

I'd like to hear your side of the story

solve

to find or provide a way of dealing with a problem

What's the best way to solve this?

take on

to agree to do some work or be responsible for something

You shouldn't have been expected to take on so much

tool

something that you hold in your hand and use to do a particular job

You have to think of 360-degree as a development tool