With many companies starting their annual performance review process, it will be interesting to see how many employees are surprised by their official year-end review.  Unfortunately, it will be too many.  If your organization's managers are not meeting with their subordinates at least once a month to discuss their efforts in meeting their goals, they are doing a disservice to the company and their people.

Employees need regular and on-going feedback, coaching, and direction.  Period.  While monthly is good, these one-on-one sessions are better when performed weekly or twice a month.  There should never be a surprise when a person receives their year-end review--because if regular one-on-ones are held, everyone knows how well an employee is performing. 

For other insights into issues surrounding year-end performance reviews, check out Jared Sandberg's column in today's Wall Street Journal.