Oh-the-dreaded-performance-review. It can feel a little report-cardy, sometimes confrontational, a bit retro, often boring, and almost always really awkward. But what if these yearly rituals weren’t just about ticking boxes or handing out critiques? What if, instead, they were powerful tools to spark meaningful conversations and actually drive engagement at work? Performance reviews, when done right, can flip the script and become something employees and managers genuinely look forward to.

Every employee has experienced feedback famine – that deafening silence from their managers and peers. This leaves them uncertain of the direction they’re supposed to take, or whether the direction they have taken is effective. Maybe they’re unsure of the quality of their work, and if there are ways to improve their performance. And then the yearly performance evaluation comes along, and they’re buried in “should’ves and could’ves”.

2025 began a bit like a bulldozer. Employees are experiencing burnout and layoff anxiety at all-time highs. Uncertainty causes stress. And we haven’t seen so much of this since the pandemic. Organizations have always experienced challenges keeping employees engaged and productive during the summer months. And this year is no exception. Don’t fret because there are great ways to keep up the momentum of work in the slog of those summer months.

We’re dealing with a time fraught with conflict, and it’s unrealistic to think that the issues the United States and the world face today aren’t affecting your employees. Some may have family members who have lost their jobs. Others might be missing out on key nutrition or special education programs for their children. No matter what the scenario, we’re all facing a difficult time.

If there's one thing to be certain about managing human beings, it's that there will be conflict. We'd also argue that conflict has gotten a bad rap of late. Conflict is essential for growth. Conflict isn't always bad (or always good). And conflict avoidance can be symptomatic of serious problems that might be structural, and/or poor communication.