ABSTRACT
In some firms, schools, and other organizations, managers ask their employees to complete a task that, at least at first blush, would seem to be straightforward. Employees, and often managers themselves, are requested to sit down and describe the personal strengths they bring to the job as well as any shortcomings that interfere with their performance. They may be asked to list their recent accomplishments and their disappointments. They may be prompted to discuss their positive contributions to a firm’s livelihood, and to list missed opportunities that they will pay attention to in the future. They list core competencies they can rely on as well as areas they are prioritizing for improvement.
