Part 1: Performance Management Edition #HRMixTape2018

I was lucky to stumble upon this tweet a few days back and immediately knew that I just had to make my own Mixtape. What I didn’t know is how much fun this would end up being. Hence, the part 1. Needless to say, another will follow. Because I am dealing with a lot of performance management madness at the moment, this Mixtape seems apt. No hidden lessons here; I’ll save that for the next. This one is pure unadulterated fun and likely something every HR pro can relate to.

1. Thunder – Imagine Dragons

Not a yes sir, not a follower

Fit the box, fit the mold

Have a seat in the foyer, take a number

I was lightning before the thunder

Thunder, thunder

Have you read the studies that reveal how every employee feels that they’ve performed like a superstar throughout the year? Well, you don’t need studies to tell you that. It plays out as a real life case study ever goddamn appraisal cycle. Employees swashing in believing that this time they are going to walk out with a fat paycheck only to face extreme cognitive dissonance. Managers let sleeping dogs lie until they are forced to talk about performance. Wake up calls are hard to accept and that is the unfortunate theme of the season.

2. Never Enough – The Greatest Showman OST

All the shine of a thousand spotlights

All the stars we steal from the nightsky

Will never be enough

Never be enough

Towers of gold are still too little

These hands could hold the world but it’ll

Never be enough

You know it, don’t you? You will be hearing a lot of this over the next few months. It is the season of coaching managers who’ll struggle to deal with the people singing ‘Never Enough’. They exist. Deal with it. No matter how much you shower, they will always be unhappy and always want more. Move on.

3. Million Reasons – Lady Gaga

I bow down to pray

I try to make the worst seem better

Lord, show me the way

To cut through all his worn out leather

I’ve got a hundred million reasons to walk away

But baby, I just need one good one to stay

Then of course comes the heartbreak song. If they aren’t singing ‘Never Enough’, they are likely crying in disbelief of how the organization they’ve given all to has betrayed them. After all, most people do just need one good reason to stay and no, it’s not purpose.

4. Where is the love – The Black Eyed Peas

Mama, mama, mama, tell us what the hell is goin’ on

Can’t we all just get along?

Father, Father, Father help us

Send some guidance from above

‘Cause people got me, got me questioning

(Where’s the love)

You’ll probably be singing these lines when you see your own paycheck. Did you not expect a better raise? All those tears shed for nothing. You did slog for an entire year and now really – ‘Where is the love?’

5. The Greatest – Sia

Don’t give up, I won’t give up

Don’t give up, no no no

Don’t give up, I won’t give up

Don’t give up, no no no

I’m free to be the greatest, I’m alive

I’m free to be the greatest here tonight, the greatest

The greatest, the greatest alive

This too shall pass. Life can’t be that unfair and we’re never giving up. We’ve survived many such cycles and gotten a little bit thick-skinned each time over. There will be a time we’ll be the greatest alive. Won’t there?

What would feature on your #HRMixTape2018? Create your own, check out the easy guidelines and follow the hashtag on Twitter. This is the most fun I’ve ever had on an HR challenge.

And Mark – you need to make this an annual event!