Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Part 1

04/10/25 • 13 min

Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People)

Let’s be honest: most employee reviews suck. They’re vague, awkward, once-a-year rituals that everyone dreads—and nobody grows from.

But they don’t have to be.

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris breaks down how to build employee development plans that actually work—with SMART goals that connect to your team’s real career aspirations, and a system to track progress month after month.

You’ll learn:

✅ How to ditch the checkbox review culture
✅ How to build SMART goals your team actually cares about
✅ How to break annual goals into quarterly and monthly wins
✅ How to create a simple, powerful one-page development plan
✅ And why most reviews feel like punishment—but don’t have to

If you want to stop phoning it in and start building a culture where reviews lead to real growth, this episode is your roadmap. Plus, Colby shares real-life stories (yes, even the ones where he learned the hard way), so you can skip the mistakes and level up your leadership game faster.

🔔 Subscribe. Share it with the leader who’s still using last year’s copy-paste review template.

And if you’re looking for keynote speakers, workshops, or coaching that doesn’t suck either—Colby’s your guy.

Connect with Colby on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/)

or at his webpage: nxtstepadvisors.com (no "E" in NXT)

Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People)

Let’s be honest: most employee reviews suck. They’re vague, awkward, once-a-year rituals that everyone dreads—and nobody grows from.

But they don’t have to be.

You’ll learn:

🔔 Subscribe. Share it with the leader who’s still using last year’s copy-paste review template.

And if you’re looking for keynote speakers, workshops, or coaching that doesn’t suck either—Colby’s your guy.

Connect with Colby on LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/)

or at his webpage: nxtstepadvisors.com (no "E" in NXT)

Previous Episode

Mentoring and Coaching: Developing the Next Generation of Leaders

Description:
Discover how to empower the next generation of leaders through effective mentoring and coaching in this episode of the TLD podcast! Join leadership expert Colby Morris as he reveals actionable strategies for leadership development. Learn why your true legacy as a leader lies in the leaders you nurture, not just your own successes.

What You’ll Learn:

How to spot future leaders with high potential for growth
A practical, step-by-step guide to impactful mentoring conversations
The importance of real-time, honest feedback in shaping leadership skills
Top training resources, including must-read books and courses for leaders
Ways to set clear leadership expectations and provide ongoing support

Perfect for executives, managers, or anyone eager to enhance their leadership approach, this episode delivers practical mentoring tips and coaching strategies to build a team of confident, capable leaders. Packed with inspiring stories and expert advice, it’s your go-to resource for leadership training and development.

Connect with Colby

LinkedIn: Colby Morris
- https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/
Website: nxtstepadvisors.com (N-X-T, no E)

Want Colby to speak or coach? Hit him up on LinkedIn or the website.

Subscribe now to transform your leadership journey and start developing the next generation of leaders today!

Tags: #Leadership #Mentoring #Coaching #LeadershipDevelopment #NextGenerationLeaders

Next Episode

Part 2: How to Deliver Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People)

How to Deliver Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Part 2

Too many employee reviews feel like an ambush.

But when leaders approach reviews as the culmination of a year’s worth of growth—not a once-a-year evaluation—everything changes.

In this episode of Things Leaders Do, Colby Morris walks you through how to conduct employee reviews that build trust, reinforce clarity, and inspire performance. This is Part 2 of our series on Employee Development and Annual Reviews, and we’re focused on the delivery—how to lead the actual conversation with confidence and care.

You'll learn:

How to make monthly 1:1s the foundation of your review process
Why great reviews are never a surprise—and what to do if they are
When and how to schedule reviews to reduce anxiety and build consistency
How to reframe the review as a story, not just a score
A simple, objective framework to evaluate SMART goals using real data

Whether the year was full of wins, setbacks, or something in between, this episode will help you turn your review process into a people-first leadership tool—not a performance trap.

Want more leadership insights or training for your team?
Colby Morris provides keynotes, leadership coaching, and custom workshops to help organizations build strong, people-first cultures.

NXTStepAdvisors.com

Connect with Colby:

LinkedIn (https://www.linkedin.com/in/colbymorris/) and join the ongoing conversation about what real leadership looks like today.

Subscribe, share, and start leading reviews that grow people—not blindside them.

Things Leaders Do - Employee Reviews That Don’t Suck (And Actually Grow Your People) Part 1

Transcript

Speaker 100:00:01.842

Welcome to Things Leaders Do , the podcast that uncovers the secrets of becoming an extraordinary leader . If you're a leader who's constantly seeking growth , inspiration and tangible ways to level up your leadership , then you've come to the right place . Remember , the world needs exceptional leaders , and that leader is you . Now here's your host , colby Morris

Speaker 1