What a Performance Appraisal

 What a Performance Appraisal. !

by Dinesh K Kapila

We are all familiar with the terms PAR – Performance Appraisal Report or as the Government says, Confidential Reports - CRs. Most corporates or those organisations closely aligned with corporates have endeavoured to evolve quantifiable parameters and to try to reduce the textual and subjective element. But many Governments and their associated organisations continue to persist with the textual orientation. Now by virtue of sitting on varied Boards or Review Bodies over the years  in some capacity or the other, one seeks any diversion from some boring meetings by perusing the CRs, if they are being discussed. No matter which State you work in, over the years these have provided even entertainment, the seriousness of the issue notwithstanding. Even if not directly involved, it does provide some diversion from many routine issues being taken up, 

Before I really share, duly hiding any means of identifying the organisation involved, I have over years really and honestly admired the deft way in which some reviewing officers and reporting officers have sought to write the CRs without conveying much or rather conveying a lot without saying so. “The Officer is tall, has a presence, has a good deep voice and a lot of confidence due to his connections. This is his main plus point and describes him well, his connections which he cultivated with the VIPs. It indicates his self confidence and networking. This is at times helpful to the Organisation also while he uses them for his own benefit ”. I have read this gem.   Then another, “The Officer has remained very busy in attending to multiple items of work as stated by him, but results and achievements are not on his agenda. But he does appear to be always very  serious about his work and always states he is too busy to even attend to routine supervision of his subordinates. He has a wide circle of friends and contacts and remains very occupied in attending to them even in office hours at times, this also indicates his popularity and social skills”. I came across these gems as these officers had been appealing these observations while the reporting officers stood their ground ! Stating where is the negativity, we have  been so fair !. I had a good time during discussions, even if not directly involved, the officers concerned were applying pressure while we knew the facts.  

But this takes the cake. What I shall now reproduce with some editing. This is a real gem. I have never seen this and I doubt most would. I could not believe what was placed before us.  On Intelligence and Ability the officer (being reported upon and incidentally it was accepted by the Reviewing Officer) is stated to be “Average” while on Honesty and Integrity it is stated to be “Doubtful”. His Attitude towards the Weaker Sections is stated to be “Extremely Biased”. And his Result and Target Orientation and Focus on achievement is rated simply as “Missing Entirely”! There are more gems, such as “Very Casual and Non Serious” as regards attitude, As to Knowledge about his Work Processes and Procedures it is stated to be “Almost Nil”. I was totally taken aback. But  there is more, much more. 

The pen picture, which I have been treasuring for the last so many years is wonderful, some excerpts,  “A very hostile demeanour and disposition and physically he is almost violent. Extremely insubordinate and foul mouthed, dishonest to the core with many charge sheets issued to him. In a career span of this much years, he has been suspended X times for Y number of years. It is also added that his bad behaviour is such that this plus his foul language, there has been at times an extreme form of retaliation from his staff which includes thrashing him black and blue at one time. Then once by boycotting him by locking him out of his office for many days. He had to be suspended to resolve the situation amicably. He has been caught drinking with the office staff in the office too a couple of times”. There are more colourful words and vocabulary which I have not added. We do get the drift ! Then it also states ”his control and supervision is lax as the staff generally revolts against him at any station due to his way of working with insults”.  And to think the guy expected the observations to be expunged !! and applied pressure too !           

How we or rather the organisations involved resolved the issues inspite of reaching out by some people and the processes and stratagems employed are another story. But This sort of keeps one interested in the routine agenda items and the like and keeps one alert too, it does enable a more focused  attention on serious matters after perusing such great creativity and word play. ! 

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