It’s not a birthday. No surprises.

Surprises are best left to celebrations, not annual reviews. An employee should never receive feedback for the first time during their review. Regular check-ins and coaching sessions are imperative. When the manager coaches regularly, ensure it’s documented with written confirmations. An email noting the conversation will ensure that when review time comes, the feedback is not coming out of left field.

See all 100 lessons in Six-Word Lessons on HR Practices for A Productive Workforce.