What is the horn error in performance evaluations?

The horn error in performance evaluations specifically refers to the tendency of evaluators to generalize negative assessments from one negative trait or incident to all aspects of an employee's work. When evaluators focus on a single negative characteristic or performance issue, they may develop an overall unfavorable view of the employee, leading to lower ratings in areas that may not be related to the original negative observation. This type of bias can result in unfair evaluations that do not accurately reflect the employee's true performance across different tasks or roles within the organization.

For example, if an employee makes a mistake in a project, an evaluator might unconsciously overshadow the employee's competencies and achievements by focusing solely on that error. This flawed evaluation process does not account for the full scope of the employee’s abilities, efforts, or contributions, which can affect their career progression and overall morale.

Understanding the horn error is crucial for ensuring more balanced and equitable performance evaluations, as it highlights the importance of seeing the employee’s complete contributions rather than being swayed by isolated incidents.