#339 - Janelle Brittain (How To Say It Performance Reviews: Phrases and Strategies for Painless and Productive Performance Reviews)

Welcome to the Million Dollar Stories Podcast with your host, Mike Fallat! In this episode, we delve into a topic that’s critical to every manager’s success yet often fraught with anxiety: performance reviews. Joining Mike today is Janelle Brittain, business trainer extraordinaire and co-author of How To Say It Performance Reviews: Phrases and Strategies for Painless and Productive Performance Reviews. Performance reviews can make or break employee morale, engagement, and productivity. But let’s face it—they’re rarely a breeze for either the reviewer or the reviewed. Janelle’s book demystifies the process by breaking it into five simple steps and providing practical tools, including hundreds of expertly crafted phrases that can turn potentially awkward conversations into productive and empowering discussions. In this conversation, Janelle and Mike tackle the dos and don’ts of performance appraisals, offering insights into everything from preparing an agenda to mastering the subtle but impactful elements like body language and tone of voice. They explore strategies to give constructive feedback, celebrate achievements, and address underperformance without derailing the conversation—or the relationship. Listeners will also hear fascinating success and horror stories from real-life reviews, illustrating just how much the right (or wrong) approach can impact an individual’s career and a team’s dynamic. Whether you’re a seasoned leader looking to refine your review process or a new manager preparing for your first appraisal, this episode is packed with actionable advice to make performance reviews a painless and even transformative experience. Get ready to learn how to conduct reviews that foster trust, inspire growth, and strengthen your team. Tune in now and discover the language and strategies that will elevate your approach to one of the most important tools in your leadership toolkit! Follow Mike Fallat on Instagram, Facebook, Truth, Tik Tok, Twitter, and Linkedin. Visit https://dreamstarterspublishing.com to publish your book today!