This is really a specialization of another item, but I felt that this deserves its own entry.
There is nothing worse than being hit with a surprise at review time. I mean it. As far as managerial misbehavior goes, this the equivalent of criminal negligence.
A manager's primary responsibility (to subordinates) is to communicate, clearly and promptly, anything that might have a negative impact on an employee's career withing the company - perception, complaints about behavior, poor performance, bad manners, poor taste in clothes, inability to drink as much as the boss, whatever.
Most decent and caring people will act immediately to correct problems if they are made aware of them at the time the problems arise - just as most decent and caring people will react negatively and harshly if they are hit with a complaint six months after the fact, and especially at review time.
And, before you whip out that lame excuse that the employee in question doesn't handle criticism well (or has other behavioral problems that prevent timely notification of problems) - excuse me, but what the hell are you doing with that kind of problem employee in you organization? Sorry, bub, you can't weasel out... this is your problem.
How the hell do you expect someone to correct a problem if they are unaware that they have one?
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