Employee reviews can be a minefield, especially when employees disagree with your assessment of their performance.
      First, be prepared. Before beginning the discussion, check the review for areas where you and the employee may not see the same problems. Then ask yourself, “What am I going to say when Tina challenges me on her productivity figures?” Have some additional examples to cite besides the ones on the formal written appraisal to back up your case.
      Of course, you’ll avoid many disagreements if you don’t wait for the formal review to bring up problems. A regular discussion about performance will keep the employee up to date on your expectations and prevent surprises.
—Adapted from the ManagerWise website