Friday Jan 16, 2026
Performance Reviews: The Corporate Hunger Games
Pop the tab on something cold and settle in — it's time for another round of Drinks After Work!
This time, we're talking all about:
- Why performance reviews feel like going to the principal's office
- How the rating system is rigged (spoiler: you're never getting that 5/5)
- The disconnect between widget-based work and knowledge-based work
- Why managers wait until the last minute and copy-paste from last year
- What to do instead if you want actual feedback that matters
In this episode, Shannon and Deborah dig into one of corporate America's most dreaded rituals: the annual performance review. From canned responses and forced rankings to managers who "never give out a 10," they break down why this outdated system leaves 80% of employees feeling uninspired and unappreciated. But they don't just vent—they also share practical advice for both managers and employees on how to make feedback meaningful, timely, and actually useful.
So sip, swig, or chug — and get ready to:
- Stop waiting until review time to give (or get) critical feedback
- Learn how to care personally while challenging directly (thank you, Kim Scott)
- Ask the right questions during job interviews to avoid toxic review cultures
- Use one-on-ones for coaching instead of just project updates
- Understand what "good" looks like before you're judged on it
Because it wouldn't be Drinks After Work without the drinks, here are the FAB:
Shannon: Hot Apple Cider with Bourbon — Apple cider simmered with chunked apples, chunked oranges, and cinnamon sticks until reduced, then mixed with bourbon.
Deborah: Pear Pressure — Vodka, spiced honey syrup, apple cider, lemon, topped with Prosecco.
Find all our drink recipes and more at our website.
Resources: Performance Reviews Are Pointless and Insulting: Why Do They Still Exist? (Forbes, 2018)
Psychology Today: Less than 20% of employees feel inspired by their review (2024)
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