One reason many managers put off doing annual performance reviews is that they don't like giving people bad news. When done right, giving negative feedback helps the employee and ultimately makes your job easier. People make mistakes. When it happens, you need to tell people what they did wrong and how to avoid it in the future. It is far easier to correct a wrong behavior when it first appears than after it has become a habit.

So don't put off correcting a mistake until the problem becomes major just because you're worried that you might hurt someone's feelings. When you do have to correct someone, do it in a way that keeps them motivated instead of demoralizing them. The article How To Give Negative Feedback Properly tells you how in ten simple steps.

Today I finished the annnual performance reviews for my direct reports. It's required by the company, so I do it. But I think annual performance reviews are a waste of time. They are too infrequent and too formal to be of any value for the person being reviewed. And we managers see them as something we have to do, not as a tool to improve the performance of our groups. So how can we make the process more worthwhile? Read The Annual Performance Review to find out.

For a long time, we have known that taller people earn more than shorter people; fat people earn less than "regular" people, etc. The article How Much Is Beauty Worth at Work? by Newsweek's Jessica Bennett details results from two surveys with distressing numbers about how big a part physical attractiveness plays in personnel decisions. Just make sure you keep reading all the way to #8 for the bottom line advice.

And rather than just complaining that you weren't born "beautiful" read How To Look Younger - Looking Younger Can Improve Your Earning Power by Dana Anspach, About.com's Guide to Money Over 55.

Why should someone hire or not hire an "overqualified" person? In the last several days, I've shared with you my thoughts about hiring "overqualified" employees and the related theory that "A's hire A's and B's hire C's". Now it's your turn. Share with us your thoughts about your Reasons To Hire Or Not Hire Overqualified Workers.