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Blog post 
Performance Calibration Meetings: The Complete Guide to Fair Ratings and Reduced Bias
Run calibration meetings that eliminate bias and ensure consistency. Learn how to drive accurate performance ratings employees trust.
Frequently Asked Questions
What is a performance calibration meeting?
A performance calibration meeting is a structured discussion where managers compare and agree employee performance ratings across teams. The goal is to ensure consistent, fair evaluation standards. Without calibration, individual managers may apply different standards, leading to rating inflation, bias, and unfair outcomes. Calibration sessions bring managers together to normalize ratings before finalizing reviews.
How do you run a fair performance calibration session?
To run a fair calibration session: (1) Share performance data in advance so managers come prepared. (2) Use objective criteria and examples, not merely opinions. (3) Require evidence for every rating. (4) Track demographic patterns to catch potential bias. (5) Use calibration software that surfaces ONA data to show how employees actually contribute beyond what managers observe directly.
What is the difference between calibration and stack ranking?
Calibration agrees rating standards across managers to ensure consistency and fairness. Stack ranking forces employees into a fixed distribution (top 10%, middle 80%, bottom 10%) and is widely criticized for damaging collaboration and morale. Calibration is additive; stack ranking is competitive. Most modern organizations use calibration to improve consistency while avoiding the harmful side effects of forced ranking.
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