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If the Boss Asks, Give an Honest Assessment of a Colleague

If you’re asked to give your opinion about a difficult coworker, always give an honest assessment. It helps a manager to decide what needs to be fixed and what needs to be left alone.

That information is probably more valuable than you think. If the executive is asking, chances are the person plans to act on the information. Many executives do.

Be honest. Stick to the facts. An unjustifiably negative or positive assessment will serve no one, least of all you. If you exaggerate your remarks, a manager will realize he can’t depend on you for the unvarnished truth.

If the colleague overall doesn’t work well on a team or is unreliable, the inquiring supervisors should hear that. Similarly, if the person excels at something, bring that to the manager’s attention, too. Make your opinion count when it matters most.