Resolution

Here we are, halfway through the first month of the year.  At the farm, our budget has been tweaked, and our evaluations have been finished.  For the first time, I had the responsibility of evaluating a few of the farm's employees.  I had to take myself from being a coworker to being the boss, the manager. 

Over the past year, I have learned how to complete many of the jobs on the farm, and in doing that I have become friends with many of the people I work with.   During evaluation time, I have to suspend my friendly relationship for a managerial one.  I am not sure, but I felt like the evaluations were actually more stressful for me as an evaluator, since it was my golden opportunity to talk seriously with people one-on-one and gather information on what I can do better as a manager. 

Probably the most learning value comes from the evaluations that are hard to give.  My first negative evaluations taught me how to be firm, but not unkind.  I had to figure out how to in control of the conversation and get my point across.  It is hard to do, but it is necessary in order to keep the respect of the employees as a whole. 

While looking a the farm's financial and personnel performance in the last year, managers need to make sure that they are also taking time to receive evaluation.  This can be a combination of self assessment, and outside feedback.  While this review might seem to be the least important in your business, it can be a decision that has highest return in potential benefit.  By evaluating our own weaknesses, we realize how we have grown in the last year, areas in which we need to improve, and what type of people we need to surround ourselves with to keep the company viable.