Choose the sequence that prevents surprise in a performance review while preserving clear judgment.
The risk Kai expects a promotion case. Elena has real evidence of missed senior-level ownership, but she has not named the gap directly in prior 1:1s. If Elena delivers the review as if the gap is old news, the evidence may be accurate and still feel unfair. No-surprises sequence Expectations -> Evidence -> Calibration -> Conversation A review earns trust when the final message follows a visible trail. The trail starts with SMART expectations, continues through evidence, and is checked through calibration. Shortcut Write the rating first, then find language to defend it. The employee may disagree, but they can…
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