Some info for new employees: knowledgeable others’ feedback (KOF) does not always reflect true performance. You can have great KOFs but poor ranking outcome and vise versa, depending on internal dynamics.
- When a manager pressures you to list specific individuals for KOF—especially those unlikely to provide supportive or accurate feedback—it can predetermine the outcome and increase the risk of being rated NI/NSI.
- In contrast, some employees may be allowed to list observers they barely worked with, and if the manager approves those names, fake great feedback.
- If someone claims to have mentored or supported you but does not list that you in their own KOF selections, it is often a sign that their feedback may not be protective or aligned with your interests.
- Managers can access offline or informal feedback channels, and when they insist on certain KOF names, it may indicate they are steering the process toward a specific outcome.