The document critiques the use of the bell curve for performance evaluations, arguing that it often reflects a lack of conscience among managers and creates unfair ratings based on favoritism and social connections. It highlights the negative consequences of subjective metrics and the potential harm to employee morale and fairness. The author urges for introspection and integrity in performance assessments, emphasizing the importance of guiding and empowering employees throughout the year rather than relying solely on annual reviews.

1. ABSENCE OF CONSCIENCE!
Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar!
INSIDE
THE
BELL
CURVE
December 25, 2015!

2. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
A STATISTICALLY ENGINEERED EXCUSE
TO ANNOUNCE THAT MAJORITY OF YOUR WORKFORCE
ARE EITHER AVERAGE OR POOR PERFORMERS.
THE BELL CURVE

3. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
THE BELL CURVE IS RARELY AN
HONEST ARRANGEMENT OF PEOPLE PERFORMANCE.

4. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
INSTEAD, IT LAYS OUT HOW AN ORGANIZATION AND ITS MANAGERS
HAVE STEERED THE BATTLE WITH THEIR CONSCIENCE.

5. FORCE-FITTING YOUR WORKFORCE INSIDE THE BELL CURVE
MAY NOT BE YOUR FINEST HOUR WITH CONSCIENCE-KEEPING.
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

6. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
IT’S FORCE-FITTING. THEREFORE IT’S BLACK. IT’S GREY.

7. AS A RESULT, HOW YOU ENGAGE WITH
YOUR CONSCIENCE STANDS EXPOSED.
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

8. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
IF YOU ARE RATING PERFORMANCES, YOUR PEOPLE ARE
WATCHING YOU MUCH MORE CLOSELY THAN YOU CAN IMAGINE.

9. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
AND, THEY HAVE A GENERAL UNDERSTANDING OF FAIRNESS.
JUST LIKE WHAT IS GOOD AND BAD.

10. SO, WATCH YOUR TRADE-OFFS ON CONSCIENCE.
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

11. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
RAINMAKERS
YOU KNOW WHICH KEY STAKEHOLDERS NEED TO BE KEPT HAPPY SO THAT
YOU LOOK GOOD IN FRONT OF YOUR BOSS.
SO, IN YOUR TEAM, YOU PLAY SAFE BY PROTECTING AND RATING
THOSE PEOPLE AHEAD WHO CAN DIRECTLY SERVE YOUR CAUSE.
OTHERS ARE NEGLECTED EVEN IF THEY HAVE PERFORMED WELL
IN THEIR JOBS.

12. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
SUBJECTIVITY OF METRICS
THE METRICS THAT YOU HAVE LAID OUT ARE NOT FAVORING YOUR FAVORITES.
BUT THEN, THEY ARE YOUR FAVORITES.
SO, YOU SELECTIVELY CHOOSE TO OVERLOOK WHAT THE METRICS
SAY AND RATE YOUR FAVORITES HIGHER.
OTHERS ARE SUBJECTED TO THE OJECTIVITY AND IMPARTIAL
METRICS-BASED EVALUATION.

13. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
WINE & DINE
THE MORE YOU SOCIALIZE WITH YOUR TEAM OUTSIDE YOUR WORKPLACE,
MORE BLURRED ARE THE LINES BETWEEN FRIENDSHIP AND PROFESSIONALISM.
CONSEQUENTIALLY, WHAT STARTS OUT AS INNOCUOUS FUN FRIDAYS
END UP AS A STABLE FAVOR EXCHANGE NETWORK.
THOSE WHO ARE NOT PART OF THE WINE & DINE CIRCUIT WANDER
ELSEWHERE INSIDE THE BELL CURVE.

14. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
IDEA OF JUSTICE
YOU FEEL THAT A TEAM MEMBER WAS NOT TREATED FAIRLY IN THE PREVIOUS
EVALUATION CYCLE. SO, YOU MAKE AMENDS NOW.
IF YOU DID A POOR JOB OF EVALUATING A TEAM MEMBER’S
PERFORMANCE, YOU HARDLY GET PULLED UP.
OTHERS FACE THE BRUNT OF YOUR IDEA OF JUSTICE WHEREAS THEY
HAD NO CONTRIBUTION TO YOUR EARLIER LACK OF JUDGMENT.

15. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
ORPHANS IN TRANSIT
YOU ADJUST GOOD RATINGS FOR THOSE WHO REMAIN IN YOUR TEAM. WHY
WASTE IT ON FOLKS WHO ARE IN TRANSITION TO OTHER TEAMS.
IRRESPECTIVE OF PERFORMANCE INDICATORS, YOU DERAIL MEMBERS
WHO ARE MOVING TO DIFFERENT TEAMS.
IT SLOWS DOWN SUCH ORPHANS BY AT LEAST SIX MONTHS TO AN YEAR
HAVING TO PROVE THEMSELVES AGAIN IN NEW ROLES OR TEAMS.

16. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
UPGRADES FOR OPTICS
YOU ELEVATE A TEAM MEMBER TO YOUR LEVEL. FOR THE SAKE OF
ORGANIZATIONAL OPTICS, YOU END UP WITH A PROMOTION OUT OF TURN.
YOU FORCE A SITUATION ON YOUR MANAGER TO PROMOTE YOU BY
SIMPLY TAKING THE HIGH PATH OF GROWING YOUR TEAM MEMBER.
THOSE WHO BELIEVE IN THE REGULAR PROMOTION CYCLE ARE LEFT
SHORT-CHANGED AND OUTWITTED.

17. IF YOU HAVE A LARGE APPETITE FOR CONVENIENCE OVER CONSCIENCE,
THE TRADE-OFFS CAN BE ENDLESS.
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

18. Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar
SADLY,
THE BELL CURVE
ACCOMMODATES
ALL OF IT.

19. IT’S ALREADY AN IMPERFECT WAY OF FORCE-FITTING YOUR WORKFORCE.
WHY POLLUTE IT FURTHER?
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

20. IF YOU WANT TO HELP PEOPLE, AN APPRAISAL IS NOT THE TIME.
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

21. GUIDE, MENTOR, EMPOWER PEOPLE TO DELIVER ON THEIR OBJECTIVES
THROUGHOUT THE YEAR IN REVIEW.
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

22. DON’T SPOIL IT FOR EVERYONE BY
NOT BEING TRUE TO YOUR CONSCIENCE.
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

23. IF YOU MISSED READING THE EARLIER ISSUES OF
ABSENCE OF CONSCIENCE, VIEW IT ON SLIDE SHARE.
LEADERSHIP AND CONSCIENCE
VISIBILITY DEFICIENCY
THE RESISTANCE TO LET GO
KEEP CALM AND SPEAK THE TRUTH
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar

24. ABOUT THE AUTHOR
Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar is a career marketing professional based in
Bangalore, India. Sanjay believes that the absence of conscience
among individuals make people and organizations hollow, and
causes erosion of righteousness in corporate life. It is important for
everyone to introspect their actions and be good to each other.
Sanjay can be reached at sanjay.kirimanjeshwar@gmail.com.
The views expressed in this presentation are his personal.
ACKNOWLEDGEMENTS
When I first saw the slide show version of Marty Neumeier’s Brand
Gap many years ago, I was awestruck by its simplicity and the
conversational style of presentation.
It taught me how to build slides.
Absence of Conscience | Inside The Bell Curve | Sanjay Kirimanjeshwar