the performance revolution will not be ranked 1-5 w/check boxes

For years I have encouraged everyone who will listen (not many) to bag the performance review. Employees who learn anything new during the annual review need to find a new boss. Bosses that find themselves saving feedback for annual reviews need to rethink their approach or career. Feedback must be continuous, abundant and sincere.

Companies have been debating and tinkering with performance reviews for a long time. Now, though, there’s science to back up the changes they’re making. In a 2014 paper in the journal Strategy + Business, David Rock, Josh Davis and Beth Jones, all researchers at the Neuroleadership Institute, concluded that the very act of giving employees a rating jolts them into a “fight or flight” scenario—“the same type of ‘brain hijack’ that occurs when there is an imminent physical threat like a confrontation with a wild animal.”

via How Performance Reviews Can Harm Mental Health – WSJ.

Uncomfortable Entertainmet

Check out Ian Svenonius book “censorship now” here.  He is one strange dude.  I will definitely buy his book once available.

Some of his strange glory:

I saw Nation of Ulysses open for Fugazi at the Majestic in Detroit in 91 – was not really looking forward to it – but it was strange, uncomfortable and memorable.  I don’t get out much anymore but I couldn’t possibly miss Ian’s new band – Chain and the gang – when they played Brillowbox. He didn’t disappoint.

Here are some videos:

Gen X already knows – being special can make you miserable

I recommend reading this article if you are (1) Gen Y or (2) Gen X who hires Gen Y. I enjoyed the read. I find myself asking similar questions during the interview process.

For those hiring members of Gen Y, Harvey suggests asking the interview question, “Do you feel you are generally superior to your coworkers/classmates/etc., and if so, why?” He says that “if the candidate answers yes to the first part but struggles with the ‘why,’ there may be an entitlement issue.

via Why people under 35 are so unhappy – Quartz.

Declaring War on the declaration of war

This article rekindled thoughts. Especially the counter productive notion of declaring war on (people) drugs. This idea has always been with me, even as a straightedge teenager I hated the whole concept. Can we please end the use of war as an acceptable concept for addressing societal, organizational and personal struggles. I declare my intent to do everything in my power to eliminate the concept of declaring war on anything – unless referring to armed conflict between nation states.

I am endlessly irritated by:

The war on drugs, The war on terrorism, The war on crime, even The war on women (except this band – why liberals adopt the language of the state is beyond me.) It’s all bullshit.  It reinforces the confrontational aspects of life.

Business people are the worst…personally I am committing to drop war analogies from my business language. Business is not war. Sport is not war. Serving and protecting is not war.

Parents uncomfortable…kids being who they are

My kids are not interested…and i am cool with that.  Organized sports were mostly painful and embarrassing experiences for me – especially as I got older and started noticing the adults focus on my performance.

“The kids loved it,” Gregg tells Quartz. “They got to be who they are.”

via What happened when soccer parents were silenced for one match – Quartz.

Can we all agree that preventing accidental shootings of kids is a worthy goal?

I just completed the first step in my personal journey for increased firearm accountability. I donated $$$ to the Brady Campaign and signed up to volunteer. I am not for eliminating firearm ownership. I am FOR personal responsibility. It is time for firearm manufacturers, sellers and owners to take ownership for firearms in society. Universal background checks, registration and liability insurance will go a long way. I agree with the sentiment that guns don’t kill people…people kill people and it is time we take responsibility for our fellow humans.

Can we agree to stop focusing on the national tragedies and instead focus on personal tragedies of accidental shootings of kids..can we just agree to start there??

Industrial Heartland

As always I am fascinated by the cultural impact of our changing industrial landscape – here is a nice piece on one viewpoint…

American brands’ share of U.S. auto sales has fallen from 70.5 percent to 45 percent.

via Here’s what your foreign cars have done to Michigan – The Washington Post.

VW and corporate personhood

If VW as a corporation has person-hood based on it being comprised of persons (shareholders) shouldn’t shareholders share legal liability related to the emissions scandal? Granted shareholders are being financially penalized by plummeting share prices but we can sell and never again think about legal liabilities. Unlike when the original person-hood rules were established Shareholder representatives (board members) are now layers and layers of abstraction from the individuals that own shares. Shareholders, bundled into mutual funds, no longer have any direct relationship with the corporation they own. Something for society to think about. The relationship between corporation and shareholder has changed.

Recommended Site

Slate Star Codex – So instead of linking to every article on the site…

It will stretch your head a little.  Topics can be a little strange or down right illuminating.

I have had this debate – in my head – many times.

Enjoy

Not just some hedge fund guy

The whole industry is whack. Link below is a very interesting article. If you are interested in learning a little about why things are so screwed up…  Here is a great example from the article:

If I try to buy it off GoodRx.com, a site that offers pharmacy price comparisons, I can get it for $3.60 from a mail-order pharmacy. But I can also get it for $6.64 from K-Mart, special offer for GoodRx customers only. $10.00 from Walgreens. $11.99 from CVS. All the same stores that were trying to gouge me before. As soon as you take the basic step of saying “by the way, I’m also comparing costs with other pharmacies” their prices drop 90%.

If you need to buy any drugs it is important to try goodrx.com or some other equivalent.

via The Problems With Generic Medications Go Deeper Than One Company | Slate Star Codex.