Consultant appraisal: pitfalls and how to avoid them

Appraisal for consultants offers a unique opportunity to discuss and record professional issues, identify constraints to practice and plan personal development. Participating in appraisal also offers a painless route to revalidation. Making the best use of the process requires preparation and planning on the part of the appraiser and the appraisee. This article discusses some of the potential pitfalls that might impede a successful appraisal outcome, and considers how they might be avoided. Both appraiser and appraisee should approach the meeting with a positive view of achievements in the past year, a clear focus on the issues that need discussion, and an open mind on potential solutions to any problems that have arisen. It is important that the organisation supports appraisal by responding to identified constraints, workload issues and resource limitations in a planned, constructive manner.