Project Failure Files: The Impact of Ratings, Rankings, & Reviews

In Episode 7 of the Project Failure Files weekly webcast, we discussed “The Impact of Ratings, Rankings, and Reviews on Employee Enthusiasm,”sharing some of our personal experiences as people managers, individual contributor project managers, and as outside consultants, highlighting common pitfalls in providing feedback into performance evaluations. My co-host Sharon Weaver (@sharoneweaver) and I highlighted several issues, such as relying on a single individual’s personal observations without other feedback. Negative evaluations, especially when competitive or focused only on weaknesses, can lead to undervaluation, resentment, and reduced collaboration among team members. We tried to emphasize the importance of balanced and inclusive evaluations, including ongoing feedback and constructive criticism.

The episode touched on different evaluation methods—ratings, rankings, and reviews—and their impacts on motivation and team dynamics. Ratings, while simple and quantifiable, can create unhealthy competition. Rankings clearly identify top performers but can demoralize lower-ranked employees and foster division. Detailed reviews, though comprehensive, can be biased and time-consuming. These methods, if poorly designed, can lead to decreased morale, higher turnover, reduced collaboration, and mistrust in management, highlighting the need for careful implementation. We discussed the role of a PM in helping shape the culture of feedback, including when and how to contribute to the performance review process.

We also proposed several alternative approaches, such as 360-degree feedback, continuous feedback, developmental reviews, and peer reviews, offering strategies to enhance employee enthusiasm, including setting clear goals, recognizing achievements, providing constructive feedback, involving employees in evaluations, and ensuring fairness and transparency. We really tried to stress the crucial role of PMs in creating a positive evaluation culture by offering ongoing feedback, facilitating development opportunities, promoting a supportive environment, and building strong relationships with people managers. Adopting these strategies can enhance engagement, satisfaction, and overall project success. Enjoy the episode!

Be sure to tune in next Monday, August 5th at 9am Pacific for Episode 8 of this weekly series as Sharon and I discuss “Risk Management: Anticipating the Unforeseen.“ Join us on LinkedIn.